10 Steps to Build Resilient Schools: A Proactive Risk Management Checklist

Managing risks in schools, academies, and multi-academy trusts (MATs) isn't just about meeting compliance requirements. It's about creating a forward-looking environment where pupils and staff can thrive. At Keystone Knowledge, we understand the dynamic challenges schools face and provide the tools to build resilience and success.  Why Proacti...

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Employment Law Update 2025 for UK Schools and MATs

Schools, academies, and multi-academy trusts (MATs) can expect a busy period of legislative change that will affect policies, budgeting, and staff welfare. While 2024 brought several important adjustments, the bigger reforms could land in 2025 if the government's proposals become law. One such key UK government reform is changes to the employment l...

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Changes to the Harassment Bill 2025 - What Schools & Trusts Should Know

As employment law continues to evolve, employers in the education sector need to stay updated on legislative changes to ensure compliance and maintain a safe working environment. A key area undergoing significant reform is harassment legislation, which introduces new preventative responsibilities for employers. The Employment Rights Bill was introd...

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Working With Your Internal Scrutiny Partner: A Guide for Academy Trusts

Effective internal scrutiny is critical for ensuring compliance, financial integrity, and strong governance within academy trusts. Whether your trust is new to internal scrutiny or seeking to enhance its current approach, working effectively with your internal scrutiny partner can deliver real value. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you maximise...

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Procurement Reform: A Guide for Schools and Trusts

The Procurement Act 2023 represents a significant shift in how public sector organisations, including schools and trusts, manage their procurement processes. Designed to improve transparency, efficiency, and value for money, the Act introduces new requirements and opportunities that all educational institutions should understand. This guide provide...

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Cyber Security Arrangements: How to Prepare for Internal Scrutiny in Trusts

As education institutions increasingly rely on technology to manage sensitive data and deliver effective learning outcomes, safeguarding digital infrastructure is more crucial than ever. With the rising volume of data and reliance on digital platforms, cyber security for schools has become a top priority. To add to the challenge, many trusts are no...

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A Tiered Approach to Risk Management in Multi-Academy Trusts

In the ever-evolving educational landscape, managing risks effectively is a critical responsibility for trusts. With tighter regulations in place and increasing expectations from stakeholders, adopting a tiered approach to education risk management can be a game-changer for trusts. What Is Education Risk Management? Education risk management involv...

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The Link Between Effective HR Practices and Better School Outcomes

Like business organisations, schools and academies are people places. Managing and communicating with your staff, teachers, students, and other stakeholders is a key function of human resource management (HRM). Effective HR practices are important in designing education quality and learning outcomes in schools and MATs. Common HR practices in schoo...

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2024-25 Updates to Academies Chart of Accounts

Like any corporate organisation, an academy needs to be in the pink of its financial health. However, in an era of rising costs, staff salary demands, and an evolving economic climate, the pressure to sustain and maintain finances in the education sector has become more intense than ever. Like every year, academies and multi-academy trusts (MATs) h...

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The Impact of Thoughtful School Design on Student Learning Outcomes

A school can be like a second home for students, spending a considerable amount of time learning and absorbing information, developing thinking capabilities, and picking up valuable skills. With teachers and academics to guide them, schools need to be an inclusive environment where holistic learning and personality development are encouraged. The c...

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How Risk Assessment for Schools in the UK Helps Identify Vulnerabilities

Crises can strike without prior warning and be highly detrimental to any established business, especially in the current uncertain economic climate. This holds true for the UK's education sector, where schools and academy trusts are struggling to deal with multiple issues, from budget cuts to curriculum changes. The ideal way to mitigate any form o...

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Avoiding Fraud in Schools: Top Tips from Keystone Knowledge

At Keystone Knowledge, we understand the critical importance of safeguarding educational institutions against fraud. To help schools navigate this complex issue, we've compiled essential tips from the UK Government's guidance on potential fraud. Our National Assurance Director, Matthew Clements-Wheeler, shares his insights on the best practices for...

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Navigating HR Challenges in Schools: Insights and Future Trends

As schools prepare for the new academic year, HR strategies are more critical than ever. In a recent Keystone Knowledge webinar, Pip Lloyd, Head of HR at Keystone, shared invaluable insights into crafting effective HR strategies and navigating the evolving landscape of education. Here's a comprehensive summary of the key takeaways and actionable in...

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Scale up Your School Operations for the 2024/25 School Year

As your school grows, you'll realise that scaling education and operations is necessary to stay competitive. However, scaling and upgrading school operations within the education sector can be a challenge as education costs continue to rise. Becoming more cost-efficient is a common challenge that almost every school or MAT faces when upgrading oper...

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Key Changes in the 2024 Academies Financial Handbook: An In-depth Look for MAT Leaders

The UK government has recently unveiled the 2024 edition of the Academies Financial Handbook, bringing forth crucial updates and simplifications aimed at enhancing governance and financial management within academy trusts. This comprehensive guide explores the significant changes and their implications, offering insights for Multi-Academy Trust (MA...

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