Two of England’s largest academy trusts now top-slice almost 10 per cent from their schools’ budgets to fund beefed-up central teams.
But trust chiefs say running more services – like estates management and IT – in house frees up time for headteachers, as well as providing more cash for their schools.
In all, 13 (26 per cent) of the 50 biggest MATs increased their top-slice charges, analysis of annual accounts for 2022-23 shows. Only two cut their fees, while 21 held them at the same level as the previous year.
Top-slice charges pay for the central services provided by academy trusts.
