Academy Trust Handbook: changes from September 2021

The Academies Financial Handbook has been renamed as the Academy Trust Handbook.

This article refers to the Academy Trust Handbook 2021, which came into effect on 1 September 2021. It summarises the changes highlighted on page 9 and 10 of the handbook.

Be aware of the risk of cybercrime

Your trust must:

• Put in place proportionate controls
• Take appropriate action where a cyber security incident has occurred
• Get permission from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to pay any cyber ransom demands

This is set out in sections 6.16 and 6.17 of the handbook.

The ESFA links to further guidance which your trust leaders might find useful:

• The ESFA's academy trust guide to reducing fraud
• The National Cyber Security Centre, and its article on education sector ransomware attacks

The ESFA may obtain information about your trust from third parties

If requested by the ESFA,