Summary
Also known as the Academies financial handbook.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) closed on 31 March 2025. All activity has moved to the Department for Education (DfE). You should continue to follow this guidance.
Academy trusts must comply with this handbook as a condition of their funding agreement. It provides an overarching framework for implementation of effective financial management and other controls, consistent with your obligations as publicly funded bodies. Other resources are available to help you get the right systems in place. In addition, managing your resources will support best value and promotes public accountability.
Feedback
To provide feedback about the handbook please complete the feedback form.
You can contact ESFA for guidance using the Customer help portal.
Contents
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A foreword from Catherine McKinnell, Minister for School Standards.
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Find out if this handbook applies to you.
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What has been changed in the handbook for 2024.
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The duties of key people responsible for running academy trusts.
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The financial management requirements for academy trusts.
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The need for academy trusts to conduct checks to ensure systems are effective and compliant.
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How academy trusts must report on their finances to give assurance to Parliament and the public about the use of resources.
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The financial freedoms and limits applying to academy trusts.
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How DfE and ESFA oversees academy trusts and may intervene where concerns arise.
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Help with terms used in this handbook.
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Links to more information and guidance.
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The Academy trust handbook has been produced jointly by ESFA and the following working group of academy sector representatives:
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The requirements in the handbook brought together into one list.
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Governance professionals (clerks to the board of trustees) may wish to print a PDF version of the Academy trust handbook 2024 for their induction pack for new trustees.
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This is the print version of the Academy trust handbook 2023.