Cornwall trusts top-slicing school budgets for services

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has found that schools are paying millions for back office services out of their general budgets.

And there is a big difference in the amount that schools are paying with some paying 4% of their budgets while others have to pay 10% for central services.

Multi Academy Trusts (MATs) have been set up to oversee schools which have become academies and then set up organisations which provide back office and management services which would previously have been provided by the local authority.

MATs are allowed to top slice schools’ budgets to provide the services but a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has found that there can be a big difference in the amount going back to the management providers.

The FOI found that schools included in the 16 MATs (out of 21 in Cornwall) which responded paid out more than £12.7million in a year for these back office services.

It has also revealed that whilst all MATs started out by calculating a percentage of each school’s general annual grant (GAG) funding to top slice the money needed to run their organisations some have now started to pool schools’ GAGs and then redistribute them from a central pot.

However, while there has been some concern elsewhere in the country about schools having to include pupil premium funding in calculating their central services funding every MAT in Cornwall which responded to our request said they did not do this and only used main school funding.

While some MATs set a flat percentage of school income for their funding others calculate it based on pupil numbers and the size of the school. Some also take into account the amount of services required by an individual school.

Before schools became academies they were under the control of local councils which would provide those back office services and functions which are now carried out by MATs. Local councils would also have top sliced school budgets to pay for this.

As well as there being a difference in how much schools have to pay to MATs for central services there are also differences between what services are actually included.

Whilst nearly all include things like payroll, HR and health and safety, some also include the likes of marketing and PR services.

We have compiled a list of all the MATs which responded to the FOI request with details of the latest cost to schools for these central services along with the comparison for the previous year, if available.

Please note that some schools do not have comparative figures which is due to them being in the first year of being part of the relevant MAT.

We have also provided details of what services are included in the central services as well as the total cost to all schools in each MAT.

An Daras MAT

MAT charges schools % of income and “allocation of school specific work” – total across 8 schools for 2020 – £400,074

St Stephens Community Primary – 2019: £102,617; 2020: £125,091

Windmill Hill Academy – 2019: £75,054; 2020: £76,555

Werrington Primary School – 2019: £13,637; 2020: £13,909

North Petherwin Primary School – 2019: £11,753; 2020: £11,988

St Catherine’s CoE School – 2019: £85,056; 2020: £125,091

Lew Trenchard CoE Primary School – 2019: £17,406; 2020: £20,444

Coads Green Primary School – 2019: £12,671; 2020: £13,008

Princetown Community Primary School – 2019: N/A; 2020: £13,988

Central services provided by the MAT include – finance and administration, insurance brokering, governance and clerking support, premises management and compliance, HR, school improvement services, centralised leadership

Bridge MAT

MAT charges contribution to a proportion of central costs on the basis of pupil numbers with exception of premises management costs which are calculated on square meterage of academy premises. MAT has now pooled all GAG for all schools and so no details of central services costs can be provided for 2020. Total costs for 14 schools in 2019 – £309,075

Wadebridge Primary Academy – 2019: £66,150

Looe Primary Academy – 2019: £37,199

Delaware Primary Academy – 2019: £21,996

Gunnislake Primary Academy – 2019: £4,205

Brunel Primary Academy – 2019: £50,623

Darite Primary Academy – 2019: £13,262

Pelynt Primary Academy – 2019: £14,071

Polruan Primary Academy – 2019: £4,529

Polperro Primary Academy – 2019: £19,893

Lanlivery Primary Academy – 2019: £8,572

Duloe Primary Academy – 2019: £12,777

Blisland Primary Academy – 2019: £6,469

St Cleer Primary Academy – 2019: £43,830

Trenode Primary Academy – 2019: £5,499

Central services provided by MAT include – business and finance, administration and HR, information technology, premises management, school improvement support and management

Aspire MAT

MAT charged 10% of GAG for central services up to 2019 but has now switched to pooling GAG. It does not include pupil premium funding in calculating central services charge. Total costs for 29 schools in 2019 – £2,029,654.

However total GAG for 29 schools in 2021 was £22,786,052. So, based on previous 10% rate, the total cost of central services would be estimated at £2,278,605.

All figures for schools for 2019.

Biscovey Academy – £113,373

Biscovey Nursery & Infants Academy – £84,308

Bude Primary Academy Infants – £73,391

Bude Primary Academy Juniors – £101,124

Bugle School – £83,212

Connor Downs Academy – £73,239

Cusgarne Primary School – £36,509

Delabole CP School – £47,571

Indian Queens Primary School – £127,179

Mawgan-in-Pydar CP School – £51,220

Mount Hawke Academy – £99,186

Nansledan School – £N/A

Nansloe Academy – £N/A

Padstow School – £66,965

Penryn Primary Academy – £161,570

Probus Primary School – £69,995

Sandy Hill Academy – £97,687

Shortlanesend CP School – £54,907

St Breock Primary School – £79,398

St Mawes School – £23,565

St Minver School – £73,779

St Stephen Churchtown Academy – £103,322

St Uny CofE Academy – £90,324

Summercourt Academy – £45,879

Tintagel Primary School – £41,431

Treverbyn Academy – £80,776

Truro Learning Academy – £67,549

Warbstow CP School – £37,942

Whitemoor Academy – £44,254

Central services provided by the MAT include – improvement team, strategic partners and leadership; staff training programme; resources and initiatives; events for staff and pupils; finance and business management team; accountancy and audit services; HR, payroll, H&S team; staff wellbeing initiatives; premises management team; legal services; IT support team; website support, marketing communications and PR; governance advice and support; policy management and support; admin support; safeguarding support; catering (to Dec 2019)

Celtic Cross Education MAT

The MAT has pooled schools’ GAGs since 2019 and calculates the charge for central services on a per pupil basis so cannot provide a percentage for how much each school is charged for central services. Total charged for all 12 schools in the MAT in 2019 – £751,995.

Based on the GAG figures provided for schools in 2020/21 the central charge is almost equal to around 10%.

All figures for schools in 2019

Lerryn Church of England Primary School – £10,499

St Mabyn Church of England Primary School – £25,539

St Petroc’s Church of England Primary School – £226,817

St Tudy Church of England Primary School – £22,458

St Winnow Church of England Primary School – £23,462

St Michael’s Church of England Primary School – £145,448

Bishop Bronescombe Church of England Primary School – £123,297

Grampound Road Village Church of England Primary School – £47,183

Grampound-with-Creed Church of England Primary School – £24,185

Ladock Church of England Primary School – £32,115

Veryan Church of England Primary School – £22,107

Marhamchurch Church of England Primary School – £48,885

Central services provided by the MAT include – finance, administration and budget management; building and supply insurance; staff INSET training; HR and payroll; education and strategic leadership; school improvement; H&S; plant engineering inspection and insurance; premises support; legal support; clerking and governance support; pension deficit costs; fixed asset register management; IT services; invoice processing and payments

Cornwall Education Learning Trust (CELT)

The MAT charges schools 4.8% of their GAG income to provide central services. The total charged to 12 schools in 2020 was £1,391,140.

Penrice – 2019 £334,539; 2020 £334,346

St Mewan – 2019 £68,734; 2020 £70,728

Carclaze – 2019 £71,289; 2020 £72,320

Mevagissey – 2019 £24,702; 2020 £25,926

Fowey – 2019 £31,298; 2020 £29,753

Lostwithiel – 2019 £29,011; 2020 £29,638

Luxulyan – 2019 £20,839; 2020 £20,422

Mount Charles – 2019 £74,887; 2020 £75,769

Poltair – 2019 £N/A; 2020 £182,040

Newquay Tretherras – 2019 £N/A; 2020 £316,170

Newquay Junior – 2019 £N/A; 2020 £79,100

Brannel – 2019 £N/A; 2020 £154,928

Central services provided include finance and administration; IT services; payroll and HR; health and safety and estates management; leadership management; secretarial.

Crofty MAT

The MAT charges schools 5% of their GAG for the provision of central services. The total charged for 9 schools in 2020 was £519,387

Pencoys Primary School – 2019 £41,627; 2020 £38,753

Rosemellin Primary School – 2019 £69,150; 2020 £72,691

Portreath Primary School – 2019 £28,698; 2020 £28,816

Illogan Primary School – 2019 £43,361; £43,449

Weeth Primary School – 2019 £41,822; 2020 £42,557

Treloweth Primary School – 2019 £85,182; 2020 £88,180

Roskear Primary School – 2019 £87,063; 2020 £93,341

Lanner Primary School – 2019 £43,857; 2020 £44,347

Pennoweth Primary School – 2019 £67,692; 2020 £67,253

Central services provided by the MAT include – finance and administration; premises management and compliance; school improvement advice; HR; IT licenses.

Kernow Learning MAT

The MAT previously charged schools 5% of their GAG to provide central services. However the MAT now pools schools’ GAG funding but says that the charge to schools is approximately 7% of their GAG. The total charged to 19 schools in 2020/21 was £1,433,928 this compares to £848,483 in 2019/20. Pupil premium funding is not included in the calculation for central services.

Beacon ACE Academy – 2020 £90,773; 2021 £121,896

Charlestown Primary School – 2020 £63,189; 2021 £100,872

Constantine Primary School – 2020 £35,823; 2021 £49,752

Falmouth Primary School – 2020 £65,990; 2021 £82,980

Foxhole Primary School – 2020 £25,722; 2021 £30,732

King Charles Primary School – 2020 £N/A; 2021 £110,580

Leedstown Primary School – 2020 £22,641; 2021 £20,304

Mabe CP School – 2020 £32,997; 2021 £45,276

St Agnes Academy – 2020 £56,050; 2021 £90,084

St Columb Major Academy – 2020 £69,395; 2021 £100,596

St Columb Minor Academy – 2020 £107,975; 2021 £159,948

St Francis CoE Primary School – 2020 £N/A; 2021 £114,744

St Kew ACE Academy – 2020 £16,518; £27,984

St Merryn Primary School – 2020 £26,293; 2021 £39,864

St Newlyn East Learning Academy – 2020 £38,121; 2021 £53,328

The Bishops Learning Academy – 2020 £67,011; 2021 £97,908

Trenance Learning Academy – 2020 £72,616; 2021 £100,872

Trevisker Primary School – 2020 £36,684; 2021 £55,464

Upton Cross ACE Academy – 2020 £20,685; 2021 £30,744

Central services provided by the MAT include – school improvement; finance; IT support; HR; property & compliance; marketing and business development and support

Leading Edge Academies Partnership

The MAT charges schools in the trust 5% of their GAG for central services. This has increased from 4.5% in 2019/20. The MAT does not include pupil premium in its calculations for the central charge. The total charge for 6 schools in 2021 was £641,493

Mounts Bay Academy – 2020 £224,888; 2021 £253,856

Five Islands Academy – 2020 £114,606; 2021 £140,029

Fowey River Academy – 2020 £150,396; 2021 £147,854

Ludgvan Academy – 2020 £34,412; 2021 £38,698

St Hilary School – 2020 £37,903; 2021 £44,812

St Buryan Academy – 2020 £N/A; 2021 £16,244

Central services provided by the MAT include – HR, audit, insurance, finance systems and support; H&S; recruitment; legal; operational and educational support

North Cornwall Learning Trust

The MAT charges schools for central services calculated by the school size and the number of pupils on roll. The total charged for 5 schools in 2020 was £200,000, compared to £154,500 in 2019.

Camelford Community Primary School – 2019 £37,000; 2020 £52,000

St Teath Community Primary School – 2019 £15,000; 2020 £20,000

Otterham Community Primary School – 2019 £15,000; 2020 £18,000

St Breward Community Primary School – 2019 £7,500; 2020 £8,000

Sir James Smith’s School – 2019 £80,000; 2020 £102,000

Central services provided by the MAT include – CEO; central premises maintenance; finance and administration; HR/payroll; legal and professional services; staff training; data management; education welfare officer; H&S

Rainbow MAT

The MAT charges schools 5.5% of their GAG to cover central services including buildings insurance and payroll costs. The total cost for 4 schools in 2020 was £147,777; compared to £145,382 in 2019

St Meriadoc CE Infant Academy – 2019 £39,712; 2020 £37,200

St Meriadoc CE Junior Academy – 2019 £46,349; 2020 £48,423

Troon CP School – 2019 £34,629; 2020 £35,154

Penponds Primary School – 2019 £24,692; 2020 £27,000

Central services provided include – finance and administration; and settlement of other shared costs.

The Roseland MAT

The MAT charges schools 4.8% of their GAG funding for the provision of central services. The total cost of this for 4 schools in 2020 was £397,540; compared with £189,408 in 2019.

The Roseland Academy – 2019 £89,615; 2020 £145,765

Tregony Community Primary School – 2019 £15,558; 2020 £24,445

Gerrans School – 2019 £6,779; 2020 £11,958

Treviglas Academy – 2019 £77,456; 2020 £215,372

Central services provided include – HR; financial services; legal services; estates and premises support and advice; capital funding management services

South East Cornwall Multi Academy Regional Trust (SMART)

The MAT charges schools 5% from their annual funding for the provision of central services. The total cost for 6 schools in 2020 was £763,800; compared with £746,352 in 2019.

Dobwalls Community Primary School – 2019 £34,380; 2020 £35,628

Landulph School – 2019 £16,716; 2020 £16,476

Liskeard School & Community College – 2019 £261,132; 2020 £254,292

Looe Community Academy – 2019 £122,700; 2020 £132,816

Saltash Community School – 2019 £308,676; 2020 £308,448

Trewidland Primary School – 2019 £9,588; 2020 £9,300

Central services provided include – business and finance; admin and HR; information technology; premises management; school improvement support and management

Southerly Point Co-Operative MAT

The MAT charges schools 5% of their school budget share and MFG grants annually for central services. The total cost for 19 schools in 2020 was £784,964; compared with £778,513 in 2019.

Breage – 2019 £17,366; 2020 £18,079

Crowan – 2019 £20,555; 2020 £22,108

Cury – 2019 £10,678; 2020 £10,245

Garras – 2019 £22,030; 2020 £21,236

Godolphin – 2019 £17,913; 2020 £17,823

Halwin – 2019 £17,657; 2020 £16,922

Helston – 2019 £264,007; 2020 £261,120

Landewednack – 2019 £20,643; 2020 £21,962

Mullion CP – 2019 £28,737; 2020 £28,912

Mullion – 2019 £136,412; 2020 £141,507

Parc Eglos – 2019 £70,420; 2020 £71,575

Porthleven – 2019 £45,326; 2020 £46,025

Sithney – 2019 £20,074; 2020 £19,979

Trannack – 2019 £16,395; 2020 £14,444

Wendron – 2019 £22,817; 2020 £22,602

Coverack – 2019 £9,572; 2020 £10,742

Grade Ruan – 2019 £13,536; 2020 £13,660

Manaccan – 2019 £9,998; 2020 £11,112

St Keverne – 2019 £14,377; 2020 £14,911

Central services provided by the MAT include – financial management & processing; general insurance; academy improvement services; HR & payroll; legal services; IT licenses; accounts & audit; data & statistics; free school meals and pupil premium administration; safety of school visit administration; actuarial valuation.

Special Partnership Trust

Academy Trust charges schools 6% of GAG, High Needs funding and boarding for central services. Total for 4 schools for 2020 – £511,581

Curnow School – 2019: £93,363; 2020: £116,442

Doubletrees School – 2019: £68,036; 2020: £116,310

Nancealverne – 2019: £78,408; 2020: £94,245

Pencalenick School – 2019: £165,703; 2020: £184,584

Central services provided by the MAT include – HR, financial services, legal services, estates and premises support, capital funding manager services, school improvement services, H&S services and information management services

Truro & Penwith Academy Trust

The MAT charges schools 4.5% of their GAG to provide central services. The MAT does not include pupil premium funding in that calculation. The total cost for 28 schools in 2020/21 was £1,220,243. This compared to £1,161,136 in 2019/20.

Alverton – 2020 £51,767; 2021 £54,986

Berrycoombe – 2020 £43,613; 2021 £46,287

Blackwater – 2020 £20,443; 2021 £21,086

Bodriggy – 2020 £56,173; 2021 £57,167

Cape Cornwall – 2020 £79,776; 2021 £79,043

Cardinham – 2020 £15,287; 2021 £15,397

Chacewater – 2020 £29,998; 2021 £32,670

Gulval – 2020 £30,388; 2021 £33,890

Hayle – 2020 £133,222; 2021 £130,074

Liskeard Hillfort – 2020 £66,099; 2021 £69,367

Kehelland – 2020 £17,372; 2021 £18,595

Kennall Vale – 2020 £22,894; 2021 £24,600

Lanivet – 2020 £29,041; 2021 £32,493

Mithian – 2020 £18,560; 2021 £20,750

Mousehole – 2020 £20,391; 2021 £22,801

Nancledra – 2020 £19,953; 2021 £21,723

Newlyn – 2020 £30,569; 2021 £29,192

Perranporth – 2020 £34,246; 2021 £35,100

Pendeen – 2020 £20,874; 2021 £23,180

Pensans – 2020 £48,653; 2021 £48,936

Roche – 2020 £36,096; 2021 £40,642

St Dennis – 2020 £34,464; 2021 £34,146

St Erth – 2020 £20,991; 2021 £21,354

St Ives – 2020 £120,433; 2021 £134,095

St Just – 2020 £31,564; 2021 £34,598

Sennen – 2020 £16,256; 2021 £16,064

Threemilestone – 2020 £64,791; 2021 £71,888

Tywardreath – 2020 £47,221; 2021 £50,119

Central services provided include – business management including accounts, HR, payroll, audit, Freedom of Information support, finance systems, bank charges, insurance; and school improvement services including school improvement frameworks, training, monitoring, guidance and support for governors, Ofsted support and guidance.

Wave MAT

(Please note that Wave MAT also covers some schools outside Cornwall)

The MAT charges each academy proportionately for central services based on pupil admission numbers and levels of additional support provided. The total for 11 schools in 2020 was £1,221,582; compared to £545,556 in 2019.

Caradon – 2019 £19,877; 2020 £74,897

CHES – 2019 £112,631; 2020 £314,754

Nine Maidens – 2019 £33,293; 2020 £116,701

North Cornwall – 2019 £25,840; 2020 £88,832

Carrick – 2019 £19,877; 2020 £71,414

Penwith – 2019 £24,348; 2020 £85,348

Restormel – 2019 £19,877; 2020 £67,930

River Dart – 2019 £90,158; 2020 £15,512

Shoreline – 2019 £87,991; 2020 £32,930

Stansfield – 2019 £111,664; 2020 £94,057

Torlands – 2019 £N/A; 2020 £259,207

Central services provided include – finance and administration; IT services; insurance, payroll and HR; health and safety; leadership management; premises and estate management; legal and professional services; school improvement partnerships; governance.