Key performance indicators (KPIs) for schools and trusts

Find specific advice about financial KPIs, which academy trusts are required to set. See examples of key performance indicators for maintained schools and academies, and how to use them effectively alongside your school improvement plan (SIP) or strategic plan.

Last reviewed on 29 March 2023
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 40743
Contents
  1. Academy trusts must set financial KPIs
  2. Maintained schools may find financial KPIs useful
  3. Setting and monitoring non-financial KPIs 
  4. Examples from schools and trusts

Academy trusts must set financial KPIs

Your trust is required to:

  • Select key financial performance indicators
  • Measure its performance against them regularly
  • Include analysis in the annual trustees’ report

This is explained in the Academy Trust Handbook (see paragraph 2.22). 

Our template CEO report to trustees has a section that lets your CEO record your trust's performance against its KPIs. 

The handbook doesn't specify any particular KPIs

However, some you could use for financial performance include:

  • Spending on particular areas as a percentage of total expenditure (e.g. on teaching staff, supply staff, premises, teaching resources and energy)
  • In-year balance as a percentage of total income
  • Revenue reserves as a percentage of total income
  • Average teacher cost

Remember that everything your trust

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