GovernorHub Knowledge logo

Academy Trust Handbook: changes from September 2025

Changes to the Academy Trust Handbook include a ban on paying cyber ransom demands, and educational performance is no longer grounds for issuing a Notice to Improve.

Last reviewed on 9 July 2025See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 35536
Contents
  1. Your trust should be working towards 6 core digital and technology standards
  2. More guidance to support you with estate management
  3. Further detail on the role of your accounting officer
  4. Additional guidance to support procurement
  5. Your pay policy must set out your approach to executive pay
  6. Change to cost recovery requirements for mainstream boarding
  7. Clarification over income thresholds
  8. Change to rules on novel, contentious or repercussive transactions
  9. Trusts must not pay cyber ransom demands
  10. New guidance on financial support and oversight
  11. Educational performance no longer grounds for a Notice to Improve (NtI)
  12. The DfE can recover funds

This article refers to the Academy Trust Handbook (ATH) 2025, which comes into effect on 1 September 2025. It breaks down the changes highlighted at the beginning of the handbook.

Your trust must follow the 2024 version until 31 August 2025.

Part 1: Roles and responsibilities

Your trust should be working towards 6 core digital and technology standards

You should have an understanding of the extent to which your trust is currently meeting the Department for Education's (DfE's) digital and technology standards.

Your trust should also be working towards meeting the following 6 core standards by 2030:

  • Broadband internet
  • Network switching
  • Wireless network
  • Cyber security
  • Filtering and monitoring
  • Digital leadership and governance

This is set out in paragraph 1.16.

More guidance to support you with estate management

School estate management standards Schools can use this to understand where to start to become fully effective, how to progress and