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What the Spending Review 2025 Means for School Budgets

At School Business Services, we’ve reviewed the government's full Spending Review 2025 and pulled together the key takeaways and what they mean for your budget planning over the next few years.

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Latest News

How a Finance Service Desk Supports Schools & Trusts: A Day in the Life of a Finance Team
Finance

Posted on 20th November 2025

How a Finance Service Desk Supports Schools & Trusts: A Day in the Life of a Finance Team

This article explores how the SBS Finance Service Desk provides immediate, expert support when it matters most, from troubleshooting system glitches to guiding best practice.

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Pension news for Trusts: What to prepare for LGPS surplus
Finance

Posted on 17th November 2025

Pension news for Trusts: What to prepare for LGPS surplus

A surprising LGPS surplus could significantly reduce trusts’ pension contribution costs from 2026, and this article explains what you need to prepare now to maximise the financial benefits.

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DfE Updates Guidance on Severance Payments for Academies: What You Need to Know
Finance

Posted on 5th November 2025

DfE Updates Guidance on Severance Payments for Academies: What You Need to Know

The DfE has released updated guidance on severance payments for academy trusts, clarifying the approval process, reporting requirements, and expectations for demonstrating value for money.

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Time For Dynamism in Trust Management Accounts
Finance

Posted on 22nd October 2025

Time For Dynamism in Trust Management Accounts

Kelly Crawford of School Business Services on why a shift to more responsive management accounting could aid trusts as they navigate through difficult times.

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Flexibility is The Watchword When Managing SEND Staffing Pressures
Finance

Posted on 8th October 2025

Flexibility is The Watchword When Managing SEND Staffing Pressures

SEND is perhaps the biggest challenge for budget decision-makers in Trusts and schools today. Bethan Whyman of School Business Services explores the issues and offers some solutions.

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Take a Holistic View of ICFP
Finance

Posted on 10th September 2025

Take a Holistic View of ICFP

The challenge of balancing quality education with tight budgets is ever present and requires a coordinated approach that leads to decisions on education and finances being taken together. That’s why Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning (ICFP) is now becoming an increasingly vital tool across our sector.

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6 Ways to Enhance Your IRIS Financials System in 2025
Finance

Posted on 27th August 2025

6 Ways to Enhance Your IRIS Financials System in 2025

Have you considered these areas and how they could benefit staff, finance & accounting best practice and data integrity?

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How Can ICFP Help You Make Your School or Trust More Efficient?
Finance

Posted on 21st August 2025

How Can ICFP Help You Make Your School or Trust More Efficient?

At School Business Services, we’ve developed SBS ICFP, a cloud-based tool that brings this process to life by combining live financial, staffing, and curriculum data in one easy-to-use platform.

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Tightening Up Scrutiny Isn’t Just For the Big Players
Finance

Posted on 7th August 2025

Tightening Up Scrutiny Isn’t Just For the Big Players

Amelia Clark, Head of Internal Scrutiny at School Business Services, on why exacting new Internal Scrutiny requirements coming in later this year shouldn’t just apply to the largest Trusts.

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What Is a School Fund Audit?
Finance

Posted on 24th July 2025

What Is a School Fund Audit?

Many maintained schools operate a separate account known as a School Fund. But how are these funds managed and monitored? That’s where a School Fund Audit comes in.

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Key Changes in the Academy Trust Handbook 2025/26
Finance

Posted on 22nd July 2025

Key Changes in the Academy Trust Handbook 2025/26

The newly released Academy Trust Handbook 2025/26 introduces a wide range of updates that all Trust leaders, CFOs, and Trustees need to be aware of and act on. These changes reflect a greater emphasis on transparency, sustainability, digital safety, governance, and financial integrity.

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School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions 2025 Released
Finance

Posted on 22nd July 2025

School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions 2025 Released

The Department for Education has released the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document 2025, setting out key updates effective from 1 September 2025.

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