Developing the Trust

For this episode Tim Warneford is in Sittingbourne in Kent to speak to Phil Reynolds. Phil has spent over 20 years specialising in academy schools accountancy firstly at pecialist accountants Kreston Reeves and now with his own consultancy PLR Advisory We explore how specialist accountancy can assist schools determine a trust strategy and how upskilling in house SLTT through training and development can achieve operational wins.

For this episode Tim Warneford travels to Wiltshire to speak to Powerful Allies Chairman, James Robson, about the risks posed to academy schools for energy procurement in an un-regulated market place.    On this episode we discuss:   The raw deals schools are getting with energy contracts  Opaque culture of energy procurement system Seems against schools interests Risks facing schools in unregulated market James Robson's path to the academy sector His background in aviation, airports then electricity and gas The industry being, surprisingly, unregulated  The shock that academies have no recourse if things go wrong Going into the market with a transparent tender Working on better contracts than the local authority Local authorities no longer happy with procurement methodology  But are reluctant to change supplier Introducing competitive tender means best value  ESFA being strong about cost certainty  Local authorities having no competitive tender or certainty of future price  Volume purchases being attractive but not bespoke  Academies cannot deal directly with supplier  Energy is the second largest cost to school (after staffing) How schools/academies should challenge brokers who contact them  Schools need to be more sceptical about brokers' offerings  An apparent disconnect between the contract and the school  How securing a fixed price energy contract for the duration IS possible  How they are fixing rates for clients for several years  Some schools getting a nasty shock with energy cost rises  There are recourses for schools that have been overcharged schools will need help with this  Schools likely to face more costs - cost certainty being essential  School staff having been wrongly trusted or been misold by brokers 

The hot topic of conversation across the sector is the recent update from the ESFA, revealing that the much awaited publication of the 2021-22 round of Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) awards, have been postponed until ‘mid-June’. This episode looks at the impact of the delay, why CIF bids fail and how to ensure your CIF submission stands the best chance of success.   On this episode we explore:   The latest news on CIF The announcement being not was anticipated. The updates on gov.uk including the size of the CIF allocation (£502 Million) A drop from last year’s double round of CIF of £620 Million But up by 20% on previous years CIF pot of circa £440 million The ESFA saying mid-June’ will still give lead-in time Post Brexit issues The knock on-effect of more projects will be delivered in term time An increase in health and safety risks and for disruption for schools Some trusts may defer projects until next year Stiff competition between CIF eligible schools Why CIF Bids fail Tim’s recommended approach for a successful bid How to make a bid stand out     Contact Tim:   07970 466 010 tim@warnefordconsulting.com

On this episode Tim talks to Harvey Sinclair, a technology entrepreneur and CEO of E Energy PLC about the fast-moving world of lighting and also electrified heating discussing how schools can save energy and indeed costs by changing their electrics.   On this episode we cover:  Harvey’s background in the industry Schools struggling with capital investment Efficiency upgrades always way down the list Switching to LED to fund savings Salix being attractive but fraught with problems Offering a Salix advisory process Need a high quality energy services provider with experience in schools Most schools considered LED lighting but not gone through with it Can be a partner for advising and auditing Launched the new fund to support the 0% funding solution Investing 5 million into their business model Having a seamless data collection process Collecting date in an unobtrusive way Capturing data quickly and accurately The number of pupils can roughly give an estimate of costs Calculating by room by zoning buildings during operating hours Installing over 70 calls in 8 weeks of summer holidays Having the capacity to do 20-30 schools a month The 3 year plan to fit 3000 schools 10% of the schools market Looking into electrified heating as well as lighting Being a specialised energy company Will conduct a no win no fee survey that will turn into complete proposal for the school Cost of delay is the biggest value driver of any energy project They can be on site within a week Then two weeks later a report will be finished Having exclusive products specific to education market A ten year warranty and within a week delivery        

Tim Warneford is in Alton, Hampshire, with Steve Bolt, director of BCR Associates, a cost management consultancy that support clients – including academies - to increase efficiency, manage risk, ensure compliance and rationalise procurement costs. Tim and Steve are also working on a collaboration with Lloyds Bank education team to support academy trusts seeking to assist academy trust to optimise resources and maximise potential.   On this episode we cover:   The challenges of managing large estates, buildings and energy efficiency BCR understand how a site consumes energy They will audit and review their energy To allow academies to help educate staff and pupils on energy consumption Looking at what is going in the energy metres Getting clamps sponsored so there’s no outlay for the school Schools taking positive steps towards reducing energy consumption Pupils then looking at global warming and climate change DfE encouraging people to address carbon reduction Lockdown reducing energy consumption worldwide Schools being encouraged to invest in technology Analysing data collected about a school’s energy management Schools having three contract options for energy Over 27 government levies and taxes in energy products  Making sure contracts allow schools to reduce energy without penalties The commercial world having more flexibility than LEA schools Gas prices at ten year low due to lockdown Financial challenges always there for schools Grants that are available to support capital outlay Creative solutions such as renting roof space for cheaper electricity ‘Educating the educators’ to make savings Operating leases versus power purchase agreements Encouraging estates to reinvest back into income generating schemes Schools adding carbon management into the curriculum Pupils getting involved with carbon saving initiatives Making schools as cost effective as possible Suggest schools review their current contracts for electricity and a gas A mid market review will enable schools to negotiate mid-contract and save cash Tim’s revamped due diligence package Academies can expect a 5-10% energy cost increase each year Considering the above it is key for academies and schools to act on energy consumption now Schools needing to have energy plans in place  

Tim Warneford is once again out and about now lockdown is easing –  travelling and recording with all social distancing in mind of course - to speak to Kevin Yardley at The Generations Multi Academy Trust. Kevin is director of income generation and his role is to ensure the estates facilities yield substantial revenue streams through optimising letting opportunities and via external partnerships.   On this episode we cover:   The impact of Covid 19 Being lucky that the trust is financially secure But still being hit hard Main priority being protecting customer base Kevin’s background as a lawyer, criminal barrister and swimming coach! Working in the London 2012 Olympics Going as far as possible to deliver value for the client Navigating the 2008 financial crisis His son helping him get his current job Generating school income to academic vision The holistic benefits to the school and community Organisational attitude being key to raising capital Setting about a cultural change in conjunction with the teachers Bringing in a new booking system Opening the hall as a venue for large family events (including a wedding) Bringing new community groups into the school Looking at pop up restaurants and dinner clubs Hosting South African swing band nights Being part of a very inclusive decision making process Consistently recruiting and retaining outstanding teachers Upgrading to a 3G sports pitch leading to a lot of opportunities Being proud to partner with Tottenham Hotspur Being the premier site for Spurs’ women and girls team The trustees demanding a very high quality of work Measuring any risk in business plans Engaging closely with County Sports Partnership and Sports England Negotiating with SFE and Dept of Education Primary purpose is always to deliver a fantastic educational service Secondary purpose is to generate income Using external consultant to support projects Upgrading to LED energy efficient units Having a CFO and Estates Manager meaning meticulous management Taking time to building and maintain relationships with customers Government funding announcements having a level of duplicity Every child needing a fair funding structure Wishing to leaving a physical legacy of improved facilities at each of the schools he works with, each school to be financially secure and increased community engagement in sport and other activities The sporting quote that drives him Delivering free school meals during the summer holidays Being confident about working their way out of the Covid crisis  

For this episode Tim Warneford is in Bedfordshire to speak to Jeremy Pilgrim from School Property Matters who are independent experts in pupil capacity and have worked with over 2500 schools so far.   On this episode we cover:   Working with over 2500+ schools Staring with only LEAs then Academies then MATs The government origins of MATs Feeling academisation brought freedom and autonomy Although some of this has been reined in with MATs Pros and cons of MATs v LEAs Whether MATs are getting the right side of support Working out the pupil yield from new developments The drivers for parents selecting schools Early adopters to academies having done quite well Are MATs getting the Section 106 funding they’re entitled to? Assessing what schools need to expand New buildings being attractive to parents A haemorrhage of pupils when a school is seen as failing Good schools also having to consider what expansion means The academy better having improved in terms of expansion A large percentage of trusts talking of expanding this year Risk to this growth Previous estimates of 1000 schools converting a year now reducing to 500-600 Schools now reluctant to convert LEAs could convert their education departments into MATs Disparate systems being hard to manage Section 106 allocation; there is money available that hasn’t yet been invested in school stock Brexit restricting labour pool How to increase quality of homegrown talent for labour pool Money needing to be poured into growing home grown talent Capacity need to be at the forefront Why would schools maintain buildings they don’t need?  

This week Tim Warneford is in Stockton-on-Tees to speak to Graham Fitzgerald, general practice and audit director at Baldwin Accountants. As well as dealing with commercial organisations, Graham specialises in the education sector, providing audit and advisory services and working with over forty academy schools including an increasing number of multi academy trusts.    On this episode we cover:   How they entered the academy client market Rapidly expanding through word of mouth recommendations Applying passion and expertise to the sector Charity accounting not being straightforward Giving clients a lot of free support early on Retaining clients through this 25% of their work being academy based now Academies being different to commercial clients People working in the sector finding it very rewarding Enjoying making a difference to children’s education Additional revenue schemes still being available for academies Many schools being blighted by lack of resources Other schools renting out their resources for cash Been frustrated about how few academies do financial due diligence How can suppliers partner to form collaborations to further help academies Tim wanting to find a pilot to support as above Previously been in the SFA’s in the best interest to convert, but are there lessons we can learn from this If a school transfers and gets into deficit there can be a lot of issues Do the SFA put money back into schools that are failing or into the larger MAT? Being governed by accounting standards Lack of clarity when pushing new projects through Some academies and schools sitting on next to no reserves Rewards for schools getting returns in on time GAG pooling pros and cons If academy trusts know what their funding is going to be they can play ahead The change of policy and government being very frustrating Most of the risks being outside of the hands of the clients Hoping that his legacy is that they have made a difference, working with schools not against them                

Tim Warneford is in London’s West End with Lara Harvard and Zoe Forbes from Ecosphere and Gareth Williams from Eden Sustainable talking about how schools and academy trusts can both save money and also be much greener by installing better energy systems and also their exclusive offer available to both academy trusts and state schools. On this episode we cover: Eden Sustainable working with academy trusts and state schools that offer free solar systems to save bills Agreeing to buy power from the solar system available at much cheaper rate The specifics needed from the school to do this Schools not always buying well with energy Clean, green energy being key in fight against climate change Eden Sustainable giving schools a lump sum up front Ecosphere rolling out a plan across Brighton and Hove schools Rolling out large solar PV projects Looking at schools in a holistic way; lighting, roof, all energy Expecting to save schools up to £30,000 a year Many schools in end of year deficit Vital for schools to receive further funding Eden Sustainable flexible when it comes to inflation rate of the PPA Schools needing to understand their current rates and how they are metred Giving talks to get the pupils on board too Reducing CO2 emissions being a big win Reducing school costs also being a big win The Pickwell Foundation, supporting charities acting on climate change and people displacement Eden Sustainable take care of all of the planning, building control, all upfront costs, installation, insurance and maintenance of the panels Panels can last over 25 years 20-25 lease arrangements available Can also help boost green flag credentials A low risk-versus-reward balance for schools Current major projects in the pipeline How the climate change message is key for everyone Eden Sustainable being happy for anyone to pick up the phone and have a chat              

Tim Warneford is in Windsor to speak to Chris Rose, Director, Karadoo Finance, Donate My School, a company that launched in 2018 with the function of creating and running crowdfunding campaigns for schools.   On this episode we cover:   Finding the Independent schools sector unusual in operation Launching into the state school sector Quickly becoming apparent the was a need for what they do Being a commercial business that loves seeing a positive impact the sereice has on schools Being ‘just giving for schools’ Allowing schools to run different crowdfunding campaigns Finding a cultural shift underway where schools are getting more comfortable asking parents for a donation Rapidly finding that fundraising platform fees can be complex Launching in response to a clear and apparent need for schools to have help Staff in schools being stretched Creating an effective formula for crowdfunding campaigns The success of their first campaign - for laptops for a primary school Having now raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for schools Engaging the community with crowdfunding projects The state education sector being ambitious through enrichment Academies no longer being at the mercy or indeed generosity of the Local Authority 8500 schools having academised but 14000 not yet converted believing that all schools needed to raise additional funds Having around 25 campaigns ready to launch in the autum term Being emotional about the heartwarming thank you videos they’ve received  

On episode 10, Tim Warneford is in Alton, Hampshire, talking to Janice Finnimore, Schools Business Manager for Eggers Secondary School, about the challenges and lessons learned from being an early converter to a stand-alone academy and why Janice feels that being a stand-alone academy can offer a lot of benefit.   On this episode we cover:   The challenges of being part of an early converter to an academy The lessons learnt from decisions made Exploring the freedoms of converting to an academy Additional funding initially being available Benefiting from economies of scale in the local authority Now feeling more confident about challenging services they buy into Working on the maintained side and academy side Learning a lot of things the hard way But making some wise decisions Juggling many plates now with the school being a business Business managers most often being women Being a close knit community doing lots of networking Emerging of the security of the local authority umbrella Engaging an independent health and safety manager Engaging an independent fire risk assessor Worrying findings in fire safety (that were not in consideration of the LEA) Condition Improvement Funding (CIF) Enjoying freedoms such as being flexible on the curriculum and changing the timings of the school day Constraints, however, with the depth of the audits they are now exposed to Audits going from once every three years to themed audits Responsible officer visits and thorough checks on finances once a term Having had successes with CIF funding However a frustration being needing inject a contribution Business managers allocating a lot of time to bid writing Being very comfortable being a stand alone academy Not aspiring to expand in the short-term Having to make some very tough budget decisions Reducing staffing through natural wastage Such cuts impacting on staff morale and wellbeing Seeing MATs as mini-local authorities Newest acquisition being an astro-turf pitch Raising around £25,000 year from letting a trampoline group use the sports hall Very much seeing themselves as a community school The local cadets using the hard courts free of charge Launching a crowd-funding page for drama studio refurbishment Funding a brand new refectory The biggest obstacles in schools being lack of funding The DFE feeling they are putting more money into schools but this is not the case in reality Being very proud of the successful CIF bids Appreciating the economy of scale that a MAT can provide but that MATs will be careful about which schools come on board  

For this episode Tim Warneford travels to Bristol, to speak to one of the most successful academy sector firms of solicitors, VWV and to Jaime Hobday and Robin Rajanah about their experience in supporting academies and also their vision for the future of the sector.    On this episode we cover: How they both became involved in education The strengths and weaknesses of LEA schools versus academy schools Academies having to learn on the job and quite quickly Managing one school being very different to multiple Academy staff becoming more savvy Universities starting from a higher and more significant estate portfolio Being politically easier to dispose of land in higher or further education than for schools and academies The continually frustration of academy with having to apply for consent to dispose of land Successes over the last ten years The early converters being in the dark about how to convert Academies working for schools that need improvement Schools in academies awareness of property issues and opportunities growing Skills within these schools grown significantly Where education has been successfully cascaded down in academies Hosting events to create opportunities to get people to talk about their experiences Often inking clients and contacts together at the firm Being a good amount of humility in the sector with learning new skills Close to 80% of secondary schools having transferred to academies Researching schools to assess their needs How regional school commissioners prefer schools to be in larger MATs – four schools upwards – particularly with primaries Inconsistency across LEAs about the conversion process The challenges and benefits of land disposal Secondary schools in Bedfordshire selling off farms Advising schools to talk to the EFSA as soon as they can Land disposal helping with the housing shortage Frustrations about the speed at which re-brokerages and sponsored conversions have to be completed Lack of time meaning less time for due diligence Assessing the finances and deficit position key to first step How schools need to be educated in what the risks and liabilities look like Conferences being a good way of doing this Regular communication with other organisations – such as Lloyds – helping with sector knowledge A large part of their service being about doing the things needed before they need them The DFE using conversion to formalise processes Holding a kick off meeting with new conversion clients Making legal concepts easier to understand Poor condition surveys Jaime’s passion for governance, finding out their ethos and helping them really understand their vision Robin’s wish to help academy trusts make the most of their estate The more fit for purpose the estate and facilities, the better the opportunities for the children

For this episode Tim Warneford speaks online via Skype to Julie Cordiner, Independent Education Funding Consultant about her work in education finance for schools and academies, the successes and the struggles of the schools academies sector and her passion for education.    On this episode we cover:   How education was her own route out of poverty Education being her passion Opportunities for children they wouldn’t otherwise have Working in education for 30 years Being drawn into special needs Returning to the finance side School leaders starting off as teachers or admin Being very little specific training in financial management side Being on a mission to raise the profile in financial leadership Drawing together fragmented information and making it easier to access Tim working in social housing Seeing the link between environment and output Some schools not providing the optimal learning environment School leaders being thrown into a massive responsibilities Not being able to be an expert in everything Knowing where to find the right people with those specialisms Seeing a lot of school business managers struggling   Where Julie sees the successes the academy system has brought   Julie’s experience being mixed across LEA and academies Academies having been successful when they have a strategic grip on their distinct things DFEA being a bit misleading about the extent on the freedoms of academies Where freedoms have been used they have been innovative Academies being open about collaborating Seeing some great MAT examples with special needs and disadvantages pupils The choice of centralisation versus local autonomy Some MATs doing aggregated procurement well Some MATs having a good pool of school improvement specialists The plight of the primary school that doesn’t want to be in a MAT The difficulty of smaller primaries struggling with the emphasis on amount per pupil The national funding formula brought the funding down How it’s not only academies that can collaborate Some LEA school collaborating with education partnerships Schools engaging the community and using out of hours for revenue streams Schools developing an income generating strategy How understanding the community is very important   Where Julie sees the negative aspect of academy system:   DFE’s willingness to recognise the sector needs more money 2015-17 particular drain on resources A huge brake on any responsiveness to changes in need For the third year running there’s an increase in children with additional needs The level of funding and the distribution of it just not doing the job Frustration that academies is seen as the answer to everything Schools are schools – not much difference between academies and LEA schools on a day to day basis The government pitting one set of schools against another Some LEA schools and academies working well together ‘Appalling waste’ in the DFE The UK Statistics Authority wading in ‘Most academies living hand to mouth and can’t provide the basics’ Condition improvement funding being almost means tested The majority of schools being in some sort of deficit The poorer schools being continually punished Schools being pushed into larger trusts for DFE convenience The bigger trust getting school condition allocations not being subjected to an SRMA visit The pressure on small trusts being pushed into larger ones by the DFE Lord Agnew having a skewed view of waste in schools Being far better to give schools the skills to do their own SRMA How building capacity is the way to go Tim talking to the ISBL about owing a duty of debt to the 14,000 schools yet to academise Julie not accepting that all 14,000 LEA schools will eventually become academies Lots of schools doing very well without become an academy Needing greater understanding about serving all types of schools Julie suggesting a forum where school leaders could share their biggest concerns More joint approaches needed Suppliers and professionals needing to get together and collect best-practice case-studies Julie’s aim to help schools and academies understand what effective financial leadership means; being about achieving sustainable budgets, equipping governors to challenge and support better, wanting to try to make DFE see that they need to trust in the sector more, believe it when the sector say they need funding and top interfering at the operation level and instead focus on giving a strategic framework with core funding predictions Julie’s book - Forecasting Your Schools Funding The sector just wishing to be heard DFE operating on a very minimal capacity As yet being no spending settlement The sector being in a funding crisis              

On this episode Tim Warneford is in Bath where he is talking to Joanne Burton and Ciaira Campfield from solicitors, Stone King, a law firm that has supported over 400 schools nationally who have converted to academy status.   On this episode we cover:   Partner in Commercial Property Team Partner in Education Team Stone King being one of the leading firms in a niche sector Working on academy brokerage, academy conversions and more Joanna starting in July 2010 when the academies act coming into being Joanna travelling aboard building schools for charity Previously working Ciara starting in a large international law firm Wanting to work at a law firm that had its heart and soul in education Stone King living and breathing education and charity Not entering in the politics of academisation as lawyers Seeing some schools go from strength to strength under the MAT system Seeing success in the way some MATs are sharing best practice Increased emphasis on good estate management for schools Surveyors and funding experts seeing so many schools transfer without due diligence and appreciation of what things will be like under a market environment All schools needing to make best of existing resources How the 14000 schools yet to academise can benefit from others experience Concerns about the funding the sector gets Very difficult for academies to set a budget Undertaking rebrokerage for clients – working out where they can add value MATs not having the funds to pay huge professional service fees Collaboration being the key to success of the sector MATs been historically more insular, now collaborating more Head teachers making emotional decisions about the school The importance of getting specialists together early for efficiency and to highlight risks Public procurement and advising clients over commercial contracts Working with retainer clients on a day to day basis Often being the first port of call Collaborating with Beth Cullen, Commercial Director of the Institute of School Business Leadership Potentially serious liabilities of clients – such as asbestos Focusing on estates management support at a very early stage Not all estates having an ‘estates team’ Schools often working on reactive maintenance Stone King treating themselves as an in-house lawyer for their clients Brand new ideas and innovative thought coming into the sector The importance of mitigating risk with planning A move towards selling off land for landing and more facilities Using Section 106 money to help schools The ESFA being more open to discussion than previously CIF being cut by £81m in 2019-08-10 The frustration of regulations slowing the speed of planning and selling off land The risk not being as high for an academy conversion than a rebrokerage Government policy being difficult to predict Current government wanting more schools to academise A recognition that more funding is needed in the sector Increase in FE and Academy Sector sharing best practice Negative stories about academies in the press causing fear in the sector Many academy success stories The importance of feeding into the ESFA process Stone King’s forum for MAT clients The sector being constantly evolving        

On this episode of Developing the Trust, joining the dots in the academy sector, Tim Warneford is in Ampthill in Bedfordshire to speak to Darren Rice, Health and safety consultant from MAC consulting.   On this episode we cover:   What brought Darren to the academy sector Darren’s previous experience in the public sector Working as a building surveyor, maintaining schools for the LEA The different between providing services to LEAs v MATs How MATs transfer risks with them Whether the LEA manages risk better than MATs Schools not having to think about compliance and legal issues under a LEA Contractors providing maintenance under LEAs Admin staff promoted to facility managers without always having the experience Helping support to staff to become property managers or building managers Whether there is a gap between due diligence and schools transferring to MATs People from education backgrounds struggling to adapt to facilities management Providing health and safety management to transfer to a business model Cases where LEAs have not addresses issues such as asbestos Schools being previously unaware of the cost of managing such issues Undertaking studies to address maintenance or facilities priorities Several schools that went self-funding but had to return to the LEA due to financial difficulties Working with solicitors to enable schools to understand what they are going into Key to have an organisation of property building professionals to support schools Understanding that maintaining a building can be challenging and expensive The frustrations of auditing functioning trusts with different health and safety systems The benefits of centralising and standardising New property managers not fully understanding the role Trusts learning to run a business and bring in business minded people Schools having to be run life a business Unsuccessful CIF bids leaving schools vulnerable ESFA changing CIF weighting and seeking contributions from trusts For trusts that are struggling the concern that they will be more vulnerable Schools struggling to balance resources between teaching and statutory compliance In LEAs the building always coming second Some smaller schools losing out to secondary schools Schools with serious compliance needs but no resources faced discrimination Primary schools feeling more comfortable with LEAs Secondary schools converting leaving less cross subsidies Pupils possibly having to travel to go to school Darren wanting forward-thinking schools to come to them to ask questions Schools sometimes wanting to brush risks under the carpet rather than bring in the professionals The importance of talking to other schools who have already converted and finding out what lessons have been learnt The need for more business-savvy staffing The impact Darren would like to have on the sector The importance of sharing knowledge and information to benefit the schools  

On this episode of Developing the Trust, the podcast dedicated to the schools academy sector, Tim Warneford is in a school in Batley to speak to Tracy Jackson, finance business consultant, about her experience of many conversions.   On this episode we cover:   What brought Tracy into the academy sector Starting as a trainee accounting technician Working in the internal audit department with schools and education Moving to a local high school as bursar (when 8 months pregnant with twins!) Recognising her area of strength was finance but learning about managing premises, health and safety, HR and more Outsourcing work and buying in expertise Being part of many academy conversion processes How the ideal time to get to schools is before they transfer Helping schools better prepare to academise Due diligence should start the moment the school decides to convert Tracy supporting a number of schools with due diligence process – starting in 2011 when there was little blueprint Setting up her own business to support trust Finding is frustrating that she’s often brought in after conversion Schools being unaware of some of the liabilities for which they become responsible Money being wasted by due diligence being repeated ‘Failing schools’ being rebrokered Unfair incentives for schools being rebrokered Seeing so many SPN’s struggle with the financial compliance and policies Primary schools understandably less keen on joining a trust Local schools becoming direct competition to each other Tracy being a trustee of an academy trust The importance of having trustees who have a connection to the school The professional development opportunities for staff from working with other schools in a MAT Some of the successes identified in academy conversions How the education sector has become far more business like Accountability being a good thing, buying power increasing The bigger trusts now being very savvy to the systems Negotiating contracts, collective buying power, pooling resources and staff UTCs experiencing financial difficulties as they set themselves up SRMAs need to help identify potential savings but focusing on those in deficit Schools being asked to publish 14 days once received financial measures to improve Three-year deficit budgets Primary schools needing incentives to convert The uncertainty and unknown about taking on a free school Special Education Needs needing more attention ISBL needing to listen to people who are supporting the sector CIF changing the rules by increasing the weighting of schools value for money being almost means testing – almost discriminating against some schools Tracy feeling that there will be a revisit of the academy system, in particular the geographical spread Rebrokering schools to make them more local LEA budgets being cut impacting on schools Feeling there is a real desire from the sector just to make things better and to deliver a first class education service          

This week Tim is in central London to talk to Ian Buss, Former Lloyds Banking Group Head of Education and now Director of Education Banking Consultancy about the success of Lloyds in their supports of MATS and academies and Ian’s aims to help further maximise MATs and academies funding.   On this episode we cover:   How the sector can work together better How the constantly changing sector needs support Lloyds popularity in the industry Ian’s task of setting up the education team How schools want to be with someone who understands them Michael Gove’s academy growth from 2010 Investment of CPD and training in the team Banks being relatively similar on pricing An academy being able to speak to a relationship manager Supporting the academy as best as possible so the academy can concentrate on pupils How no two academy trusts are the same Constant challenges from the ESFA and Department of Education Lloyds looking after around 70% of academies Ian’s own change in career – going it alone Lloyds moving towards a more local banking structure Wanting to work directly with MATs with his own business Opportunity for MATs to earn significantly higher amounts of interest on GAG funding How the sector can achieve £10-20 million per year in efficiencies and banking interest How MATs grew slowly from single academy trusts MATs and academies struggling to take advantage of the opportunities Lloyds being successful because the relationship managers knew the sector inside out The sector’s natural aversion to risk Only wanting to work with an academy when can help them generate significant return How the ideal time for schools to consult a bank is when they’re considering converting Leaving the education sector in a more financially healthy and knowledgeable state So much academies can do to get greater efficiency on finances and greater returns Aiming to help academies and MATS maximise limited funding so they can plough this into catering for the children’s needs      

This week Tim travels to Daventry to speak to Tom Kerr, sales director of Langley Waterproof Systems, a company that assess and supply roofs to many public bodies in social housing, MoD and indeed in education including schools.   On this episode we cover:   Langley being suppliers and designers of high performance waterproofing systems Working with clients throughout the UK including many public bodies –social housing, MoD and education Taking on an asset management function – having a look at stock, fitting new roofs What we can learn from social housing and social value Working with contractors small and large CIF funding on a needs basis in education SFA’s output specification and how this has been interpreted by the industry CDM regulations Fluctuating BBA’s Offering three main systems for reinforced bituline membranes Value for money being marked up from 25 to 30% The school’s contribution not making any difference for value for money Clarion, in social housing, spending £15 billion over 20 years, £700m per annum Issues regarding training young people Addressing skills gaps in the construction industry Recruitment issues as a result of Brexit The construction industry facing a huge shortage of labour An ageing workforce Attracting more women into construction The issues with schools creating their own tenders 10s of millions of pounds of funding that could potential help HACT (Housing Associations Charities Trust) Opportunities The need for apprenticeships The need to digitise everything in construction Schools condition Data Collection Programme and formulaic funding Encouraging everyone to think of the buildings as an asset Concerns about the methodology of the capture of this data Every single school having to commission their own condition survey Schools not having the option to close down The need for a better dialogue with the SFA How collaboration and open dialogue with manufacturers, designers, suppliers and contractors is the key to find out what is best practice and what might give better value for money 1300 fires average in school every year    

This week Tim travels to Woodford to the offices of Chris James, a Senior Accountant at Alan Patient & Co a London firm providing accountancy services to schools across the UK. On this episode Chris James talks:   The first academy they worked with How the above panned out Schools’ experience prior to academising 'Good housekeeping’ prior to academisation The higher level of accountancy scrutiny after academisation Investing in higher accountancy systems to address the above The benefit of increase financial clarity in helping make decisions Ensuring the children get the best education possible The skill-level of site managers required to operate investments Whether accountants need to be involved earlier in the process The key times to prepare schools for the conversion process The important of the due diligence stage Advising schools’ liabilities at as early a stage as possible Finding ways in which everyone can work collaboratively so that schools have a better service at the front end What successes they have noted with schools going from public sector to private How conversions work best when schools go to them at an earlier stage The potential confusion of schools at their first audit How investing in decent systems and skills leads to better audits How audits can be helpful to identify ways forward How larger MATs and secondary levels with directors of finance grasp the changes quicker Supporting smaller primaries that don’t have the resources for directors of finance Lloyds Bank dominating the sector by providing single points of contact How they started in the commercial sector The brand new element of compliance and reporting academisation brings schools Teachers being asked to be accounting officers Important to show understanding in terms of what they’re going through The importance of supporting and reassuring schools How many schools have converted at risk Supporting schools in cutting costs and setting up new revenue streams Hammering it home that ‘they are a business now’ How the revenue from the business is reinvested into education Finding themselves advising more on the above options Obtaining value for money being paramount Results from the Improvement Fund Value for money raising from 15 to 25% The impact the above has on schools 50% of academised schools in year deficit The potentially bleak future for schools that cannot support themselves Small trusts or stand alone schools being encouraged to join larger ones Potential future funding streams to help schools stay in small MATs – trying to maximise income, allowing more uses of their facilities, trying to minimise their costs The benefits of working with professionals early on in academisation process How schools should approach professional services before they convert to put them in a far stronger position How all parties involved would better prepare schools with if they provided a more unified wraparound service The aim to help as many schools as possible to make sure that they have the financial reporting and information that they are compliant and can also make the best decisions so they know they can provide the best education for the children Passing on skills to the trustees so that they can be better equipped to cope with academisation

This week Tim travels to Coventry to speak to Bethan Cullen, Commercial Director of the Institute of School Business Leadership - the first port of call for academy schools looking for best practice. On this episode Bethan talks about:   Being inspired by her primary teacher mother - running a budget and a school without the resources Joining what was the National Association of School Business Management nine years ago Schools now being their own professional entity With core business strengths How she thinks things have developed The National College driving through efficiency in schools Estelle Morris helping to develop core resources in schools Helping head teachers to drive through better resource management How education cannot stand still as a profession Schools having to collaborate more Schools having to develop further skills Needing to be at the forefront of education How the first 100 days after academy conversion are key Schools needing to do due diligence before becoming an academy Needing the right players to negotiate arrangements Speaking to the local authority about the state of a building before conversion The challenges schools go through in transition Developing clear guidance of the processes for schools How schools needs to build in time to benchmark buying in professional services Looking at how the money is spent Looking at what abilities are already in the organisation or the group How some schools might be transferring with a legacy of problems Issues with school buildings such as asbestos Trying to make sure that every school stands the best chance of survival Academisation being a difficult minefield for smaller schools to navigate CPD being critical as can going to a network, having training, reading quality assured guidance Trying to demystify what schools need to unwrap The key moment being prior to academisation Schools increasing need to specialise Schools bringing increasing revenue streams from out of hours ISBL’s member magazine writing a lot about the subject How the term ‘income generation’ can put schools off Primary schools having less available resources to manage such activities No evidence to show educational standard is higher in academies Evidence however that the high performing schools are more attractive Environment in schools affecting performance Organisations collaborating through aggregation The greatest impact Bethan would personally like to bring Setting the benchmark for good practise Wanting school business leadership to be seen as a career How the school sector can collaborate with professional services to ensure a smooth transition to academisation How ISBL can help facilitate between all different partners  

Welcome to the Developing the Trust Podcast, the podcast on which we open up the lines of communication between key players in the School's Academy Sector. On this introductory episode host Tim Warneford, academy school funding consultant, explains what we can expect from the podcast and talks about some of the exciting episodes we have in store.