In anticipation of the DfE whitepaper last academic year, we launched the MAT Growth Survey. We wanted to gain a deeper understanding of multi-academy trust leaders’ approaches to growth and strategy.
Here’s what we found out, and what we did with it.
We invited Chief Executive, Financial and Operating Officers, as well as business and operations managers to complete this survey. And we received 83 responses, each conveying different perspectives on issues relating to growth and strategy from varying sizes and types of trust.
Here are eight key findings to help shape your growth strategy for 2023:
1. 90% of MATs say they are “confident” that their trust (generally) is ready to onboard more schools.
2. 50% of MATs are targeting growth by one or two schools over the next 12-18 months. A further 33% are seeking between three and five new schools and 8.5% are aiming for five or more schools.
3. 30.5% of MATs report that they are considering a merger with another trust over the next 12-18 months.
4. 94% of respondents feel that centralising more of their operations or funding could make them more effective organisations.
5. 32.5% of MATs are currently GAG pooling (mostly needs-based model/ICFP or reserves pooling) and a further 54.5% say they would like to adopt GAG pooling.
6. Of the 67.5% of MATs which do not currently GAG pool, half of those trusts say they don’t want to consider GAG pooling due to the negative impact this could have on new schools’ perceptions of their trust. However, among those trusts that already GAG pool, 71% say their approach to GAG pooling or centralisation was either a positive or neutral factor for schools looking to join.
7. Of those MATs that have a central recharge, the majority (67.5%) have a four to six percent top slice and a further 14.5% charge seven to nine percent.
8. Overall, 39.5% of MATs report that when designing their strategy around centralisation and finance management, they do not consider the impact of this model on the attractiveness of their trust to new schools.
While we now know that the Schools Bill will not progress in its proposed form, we conducted in-depth interviews with MAT leaders following publication of the Schools White Paper in March 2022.
As well as reflecting on the findings of the MAT Growth Survey, we asked them about the impact of the White Paper on their trust’s vision and strategy for growth. We discussed the key success factors around organisational strategy which led to a “strong trust” as defined by the government. And we learned about their views and personal experiences around centralising functions, pooling, and top slice mechanisms, to ensure effective and efficient operations across their group of schools.
Our new insight report, ‘The 2030 MAT Growth Challenge: Effective Strategies and Systems’ offers expert insight on how trusts can grow effectively to at least 10 schools or 7,500 pupils. It includes the perspectives of those who have already hit targets set out in the White Paper, as well as those of smaller MATs at the beginning of their growth journey. It demonstrates practical strategies for growth, lessons learned on the way, and key advice to schools on assessing which trust they should join in the coming years.
If that sounds like your cup of tea, click here to download the full paper.
