Advice and support

How Shaw Education Trust took control of supply staffing - and what your trust could learn from it

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For Shaw Education Trust (SET), a multi-academy trust of 31 schools across England, supply staffing had become one of the largest and least controlled areas of expenditure, with annual costs rising to over £5 million*. SET took a step back …

Energy sorted: why over 1,000 schools have handed their energy buying to us

Energy meter

Over 1,000 schools have already signed up to the Department for Education (DfE) Energy for Schools Service. If your energy contract is up for renewal, joining is simple. Our DfE Energy Team are here to help. Here's what you need …

Is your school's money working as hard as it should?

Calculator and papers

Chris McGunnigle, DfE Banking Team Lead, returns with an update to his November 2025 blog. New tools are live, real results are coming in, and the question every school should be asking their bank has never been more important. Please …

A better deal on agency supply staff: what the new Supply Teachers and Education Recruitment framework means for schools and trusts

Image of Beth Lord. Text includes a quote from Beth which reads: “The new framework introduces a cap on the supplier fees - not on what supply workers are paid. Agency staff pay and conditions are entirely unaffected.”

Department for Education commercial strategy and innovation commercial lead Beth Lord explains the new Government Commercial Agency supply staff framework and how it aims to rebalance the market, saving schools money. Schools across England spend approximately £1.4 billion a year …

Unlocking hidden value: how one school turns its spaces into £110,000 a year

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Cressex Community School logo

Cressex Community School in High Wycombe has significant experience in hiring out its facilities, something it has been doing for more than 13 years, and it has gone from strength to strength. The school brings in around £110,000* each year …

School land transaction: what you need to know before you sell, lease or buy

Ed Lockett, Case Manager in the DfE’s Land Transactions, Estates, Land and Planning Division talks about school land transactions – telling us what they are and the circumstances where you need consent. My team is made up of caseworkers and …

The Education Estates Strategy: what it means for your school

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Image of student walking towards a school building. Text reads: Education Estates Strategy explained.

The government has published its Education Estates Strategy - a 10-year plan which aims to renew, modernise and future‑proof schools and colleges across England. Backed by £38 billion in education capital investment between 2025-26 and 2029-30, the strategy sets out …

Building procurement knowledge and confidence with Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) training funded by DfE

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Anthony Degnan, Finance Manager at Ad Astra Academy Trust, tells us what he has gained professionally after undertaking a DfE-supported Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Procurement Fundamentals course.  Ad Astra Academy Trust is a multi-academy trust in the North East of England, with ten primary schools spread across Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, …

Growing greener citizens: our sustainability journey at Goldsmith Primary Academy

Goldsmith Primary Academy sustainability lead and assistant head Jennie Twells explains how growing greener citizens is also helping to save her West Midlands-based trust money. At Windsor Academy Trust (WAT) one of our ambitions is to become one of the …

Helping schools find better banking options: a simple approach to saving money

Managing a school's finances effectively has never been more important. With a focus on getting maximum value for money to best deliver for children, we want to make sure schools have the best possible tools and information to make informed …