Guidance

School resource management self-assessment checklist

This self-assessment checklist helps academy trusts check they are managing resources effectively and identify any adjustments they need to make.

Applies to England

Submit your self-assessment checklist

Use the online form to submit your checklist.

Use your Department for Education (DfE) login details to access this form.

If you have used this type of online form before, you can log in using the same details. For example, you may have used it the last time you submitted:

  • your accounts submission coversheet
  • the schools resource management self-assessment tool checklist

Select ‘sign up’ if you need to create a new password for the checklist return.

Do not use your identity and access management system (IDAMS) registration details. They will not work with this form.

The provides guidance on the questions.

We have been made aware that question 19 and 20 are missing a “not applicable” option. If these questions are not applicable to your trust, please answer “No” and provide a comment stating:

  • for Q19: “No cumulative surplus has been forecast.”
  • for Q20: “No cumulative deficit has been forecast.”

Overview

All academy trusts which have an open academy must complete the self-assessment checklist each year.

The checklist helps governing bodies and trust boards to:

  • check they have appropriate financial management and governance arrangements
  • check they are meeting the right standards to achieve a good level of financial health and resource management
  • identify areas for change to make sure resources are used to support high-quality teaching and the best education outcomes for pupils

As well as helping trusts to identify areas for potential improvement in their resource management, the checklist provides assurance to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) that trusts have the right processes, systems and structures in place to help them to achieve a good level of financial health and resource management.

The checklist was previously part of the school resource management self-assessment tool (SRMSAT).

Who needs to complete the self-assessment checklist

All academy trusts which have an open academy on 31 December 2023 must complete and submit a 2023 to 2024 self-assessment checklist.

Local authority maintained schools should use the schools financial value standard.

Complete your checklist

The checklist covers 6 areas:

  • governance
  • trust strategy
  • setting the annual budget
  • staffing
  • value for money
  • protecting the public purse

As you’re completing your self-assessment checklist, you may find it useful to refer to:

Self-assessment dashboard

The self-assessment dashboard helps trusts to complete their checklists. To find your self-assessment dashboard:

  1. Search for your school(s) on the schools financial benchmarking service.

  2. Click on ‘start a comparison’.

  3. Click on ‘self-assessment dashboard’.

Guidance on completing the self-assessment dashboard is available.

The dashboard provides red, amber or green (RAG) ratings against a school’s data. This indicates how its spending and characteristics compare with similar schools or nationally recognised bandings and includes possible follow-up actions.

The dashboard was previously part of the SRMSAT.

Contact us

Send feedback on the checklist and guidance to school.resourcemanagement@education.gov.uk.

If you’d like to receive occasional updates from DfE on school resource management, sign up to our school business professional contact list.

Published 6 August 2021
Last updated 8 March 2024 + show all updates
  1. Added message about questions 19 and 20 not having a “not applicable” option and advised the best way to address this. Updated the '2023 to 2024 checklist support notes' to reflect this.

  2. Added a link to the online form for academy trusts to submit their checklists. The form is now open.

  3. Removed the link to the online form. The online form for 2023 to 2024 will be available in January 2024.

  4. Updated the dates for 2023 to 2024 and added the '2023 to 2024 checklist support notes'.

  5. A link to the online form for academy trusts to submit their self-assessment checklist has been added.

  6. The document ‘2022 to 2023 checklist support notes’ has replaced the 2021 to 2022 equivalent. Changes from 2021 to 2022 are outlined in the document, under the heading “What has changed in this edition”.

  7. Added a link to the online form for academy trusts to submit their return and updated the 2021 to 2022 checklist support notes with guidance on how to make the submission.

  8. Updated checklist support notes for 2021 to 2022 including changes made to the questions and information on how to submit the form.

  9. Amended the date shown in 'submit your checklist' from 15 April 2022 to 15 March 2022.

  10. Updated for the 2021 to 2022 checklist.

  11. First published.