Less than half of trust chief executives said they felt very or quite confident in their trust’s financial sustainability, with 19% saying they were not very or not at all confident. Last year just 4% reported they felt not very or not at all confident.
With more than half of all pupils now educated in academies, it raises questions about how schools can continue to make ends meet when facing high inflation, especially in energy costs; staff wage rises; and a £3bn a year shortfall on spending on school buildings.
The National school trust Survey is organised by the Confederation of School Trusts, the sector body and membership organisation for trusts, together with Edurio, leaders in school stakeholder feedback.
Nearly 400 trust chief executives took part in the survey, which also found:
- Despite financial pressures, improving the quality of education remains school trusts’ key priority, followed by financial sustainability, growth, and workforce development.
- Improving support for children with special educational needs and disabilities is the key focus within quality of education, identified by more than half of trusts (56%)
- More than two-thirds of trusts (68%) have buildings that are past their economic life or at risk of failure. Only a fifth of trusts (21%) said all their buildings are operating adequately.
- After budgets, recruitment and retention of staff is the next biggest barrier to trusts delivering their priorities, cited by more than half (54%) of trusts.
- Trusts are keen to share their expertise, with two thirds (66%) supporting council-run schools and more than half (53%) working with academies in other trusts to benefit the whole sector.
- The vast majority of trusts are active within their local communities, with 92% saying they have formal relationships with outside organisations such as charities, community groups, church groups, universities, and businesses.
The survey results have been revealed as CST prepares to welcome more than 1300 delegates to its two-day annual conference in Birmingham, where trust leaders will hear from keynote speakers including Secretary of State for Education Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP and Labour shadow schools minister Catherine McKinnell MP.
Delegates will also take part in 40 workshops on a diverse range of topics, sharing expertise and best practice across CST’s member trusts, which represent more than 70% of the academy sector.
CST Chief Executive Leora Cruddas CBE said: "No one in public services ever feels they have enough money to do all they could, but the long-term impacts of the pandemic, the shock of high inflation on energy and wage costs, and concerns about the school estate means too many school trusts are now worrying about the basics.
"They are often stepping in to fill the gaps left by over-stretched council and NHS services, even as they find their own budgets under intense pressure.
"But trusts are making their own weather. They are pressing ahead with professional development to help their staff do better, and regularly reaching out beyond their organisations to work with the wider sector and the community. There is still a joyous and wonderful spirit in our schools and trusts.”
Ernest Jenavs, Co-Founder of Edurio said: "Each of the last years has presented the sector with different challenges that trust leaders have navigated with courage, grace and devotion to their pupils and staff.
"It is encouraging that education quality, workforce development and organisational culture remain key priorities for trust leaders. The sector is committed to rising above the operational challenges and driving school improvement in their schools and beyond.”
This year is the second year the CST survey has been run, with the full survey report delivering a unique picture of the state of the country’s schools and trusts.
Trust accounting officers – those responsible to Parliament for the running of trusts, usually the trust’s chief executive – were invited to complete an online survey in June and early July 2023.
