In the earlier blog we looked at ‘why should a school or MAT have a comprehensive IT security strategy, and what does this entail?’
In this blog we explore what this means for a school or MAT.
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia in early 2022 led to a rapid and significant increase in energy costs for individuals and businesses alike in the UK as well as further afield. UK schools and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) were not exempt, and they have to fund these substantial increased energy costs from their GAG funding provided by the Department for Education (DfE).
All schools and MATs incur costs in establishing and maintaining IT systems, IT infrastructure and IT security. The UK Information Commissioners Office (ICO) indicates that the costs of maintaining appropriate IT security measures can be used by a school or MAT when deciding what IT security steps need to be taken.
Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) is a multi-academy trust (MAT) founded in 2016 by The Rt Hon. the Lord Field of Birkenhead CH DL, working with schools in the North West of England and West Midlands regions. The aim of the Trust is to establish academies that enable all pupils to achieve social justice through excellence in education delivering improved pupil outcomes.
The schools white paper clearly sets out a policy direction that will see MAT growth stimulated through the integration of further local authority-maintained schools into MATs. The proposed legislation will allow regional schools commissioners (RSCs) to issue mandatory conversion notices to those schools with more than one successive ‘Requires Improvement’ judgment from Ofsted, but what positive incentives are there for all the other schools?
The Department for Education (DfE) has recognised that MATs face significantly increased energy costs along with other increased cost pressures this year. As a result, school funding will increase by 4.2% per pupil in 2022/23. However, a large portion of this additional funding will be needed by MATs to meet the increasing costs, especially the sky high energy prices that we are all facing.
The Secretary of State for Education has clearly stated that the future for every Local Authority (LA) maintained school is being part of a ‘family of schools in a strong multi-academy Trust’ due to the strong governance, across groups of schools. However, the specific details on how this will be delivered, and over what timeframe, is rather lacking at the moment, so I have provided some food for thought below on this.
Due diligence is a peculiar business process that a MAT uses to assess a school but the information obtained makes or breaks the final decision making.
Historically, a MAT is expected to come to a school, present their credentials, make promises on ‘life after joining the MAT’ and then stand back so school governors can make a decision on whether to join. Whilst a school can review the publicly available information, there is no requirement for the MAT to open themselves up to any detailed scrutiny.
Information Technology (IT) has always been an effective school support system particularly in back office operations. However, over the last couple of years IT has become adopted in other areas of a school including providing teachers with the ability to deliver lessons online which was a necessity when Covid-19 lockdowns applied and even now when pupils are following COVID regulations and isolating at home.
Each school Trust CEO is responsible for leading the Executive Team of the Trust that enables all the schools within the Trust to deliver the best possible pupil outcomes regardless of ability so each pupil is ready to become a model citizen contributing positively to the society in which we live. The CEO does this through providing high level inspirational strategic leadership and management across all aspects of the Trust's activities.
The former Secretary of State, Gavin Williamson, stated that MATs ‘are powerful vehicles for improving schools by sharing expertise, working collaboratively and driving improvements’. This concept is also referred to as school improvement support and covers a range of services provided across schools in MATs but also between a MAT and a Local Authority (LA) maintained school. Alternative words to school improvement support, such as collaboration are also used. But what do these words really mean in practice?
Staff from schools across the Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) embarked on an incredible trip to New Delhi, India, marking the beginning of a new international partnership with PRATYeK - a charity dedicated to supporting and educating street-connected children.
As part of this inspiring collaboration, a group of teachers from across the Trust travelled to New Delhi in November for a week-long visit.
During their stay, they explored PRATYeK’s community projects, worked alongside local educators, and gained first-hand insight into The National Inclusive Children’s Parliament and the charity’s approaches to children’s rights and education.
We are delighted to publish the FFET Autumn Term 1 Newsletter, showcasing some of the incredible work taking place across the Trust.
This edition highlights a term full of inspiring moments, including pupils meeting the Prime Minister, a Trust-wide conference, Be More events, international partnerships, and the everyday achievements happening across our classrooms, schools, and communities.
As part of its Handforth Experience theme, ‘Earth Conscious’, Handforth Primary School proudly participated in the first-ever live assembly broadcast from Antarctica.
The assembly featured Robert Swan OBE, the first person in history to walk to both the North and South Poles, who engaged with students about environmental stewardship and polar exploration. Jenny Cooke from the 2041 Schools charity also joined the session to launch their new education program, encouraging children worldwide to become Antarctica Champions.
Staff from across the Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) recently travelled to Sweden to partner with two schools within the Internationella Engelska Skolan (IES) Trust — in Kista (Stockholm) and Eskilstuna.
The partnership aimed to explore how schools in socially vulnerable areas have achieved remarkable success. The visit centred on the theme:
From Special Measures to Success in a Socially Vulnerable Area – The Swedish Free School Context.
Over three days, staff from the Trust, Ellesmere Port C of E College, Birches Head Academy and Handforth Grange Primary School
In November 2025, pupils from across the Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) gathered at Manchester Central Library for the second annual Trust-wide Poetry Festival—a celebration of creativity, talent, and core values. This year’s festival showcased an impressive collection of poems, all reflecting the FFET Core Value of Justice.
The event brought together talented young poets from Birches Head Academy, Ellesmere Port C of E College, and Handforth Grange Primary School. Pupils not only performed their original poetry but were also featured in the 2025 Poetry Anthology.
The Frank Field Education Trust proudly held its 2025 Art Challenge & Exhibition at Chester Town Hall this November, showcasing the incredible creativity and talent of young artists across the Trust.
This year’s theme was “Compassion”, encouraging participants to explore and express this important value through their artwork. Students were invited to submit entries across a variety of mediums, including photography, drawing, sculpture, digital art, and mixed media.
