Recent changes to the Academy Trust Handbook 2026 highlight the growing importance of Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning (ICFP), with guidance moving from being "encouraged" to take an integrated approach to curriculum and financial planning, to "should" do so. This reflects a wider shift towards using data, benchmarking and evidence-based decision-making to demonstrate financial efficiency and long-term sustainability.
School Business Services has created a free guide to help schools and trusts:
Finance Consultancy or Agency Staff? Understanding the Difference
When a key finance team member leaves, takes long-term absence, or recruitment delays create a gap in capacity, schools and trusts often need support quickly.
SBS's latest article explores the benefits of finance consultancy and agency staff solutions, including recent updates to the Supply Teachers and Education Recruitment Framework and what they mean for sourcing finance support.