[ Categories ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories "Categories") [ Tags ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/tags "Tags") [ Authors ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger "Authors") [ Archives ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/archive "Archives") [ Categories: All Categories ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0); "Categories") Search...Suggested keywords [ x ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) ## [Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone?format=feed&type=rss) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/is-your-internal-scrutiny-programme-still-based-on-last-years-risks) ## [Is Your Internal Scrutiny Programme Still Based on Last Year’s Risks?](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/is-your-internal-scrutiny-programme-still-based-on-last-years-risks) A trust may have taken on another academy, moved more services into its central team or lost a key member of staff since its internal scrutiny programme was agreed. Yet the areas scheduled for review may have remained much the same.Reviewing the same areas again may be exactly right. The problem is continuing to review them without checking whether... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/is-your-internal-scrutiny-programme-still-based-on-last-years-risks) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 786 Hits Thursday, 24 September 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/employment-tribunal-changes) ## [Employment tribunal changes: can your trust explain its decisions months later?](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/employment-tribunal-changes) For academy trusts in England, from 1 October 2026, the time limit for most employment tribunal claims will increase to six months minus one day. A trust normally has 28 days to respond from the date the tribunal sends it the claim form. For a trust where HR responsibility is shared between schools, central teams and external advisers, the practica... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/employment-tribunal-changes) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 785 Hits Thursday, 24 September 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/aspire-academies) ## [How Keystone’s Internal Scrutiny Gave Aspire Academies Trust Greater Confidence in Its Controls](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/aspire-academies) Internal Scrutiny is most useful when it does two things: confirms what is working and shows where a trust can improve. Aspire Academies Trust wanted a provider with the subject knowledge to do both. The Trust also wanted a straightforward process, with clear guidance before each review and no surprises on the day. Keystone was appointed to deliver... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/aspire-academies) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 404 Hits Monday, 21 September 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [Case Studies](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/case-studies) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/september-payroll-health-check) ## [The September Payroll Health Check](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/september-payroll-health-check) September payroll rarely goes wrong because the payroll team cannot calculate pay. It usually goes wrong because one part of a staffing change reaches payroll and another part does not. The first payroll of the academic year can combine new appointments, internal transfers, pay decisions, FTE changes, term-time working patterns, allowances, family ... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/september-payroll-health-check) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 510 Hits Tuesday, 01 September 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [Downloadable guides](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/downloadables) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/kcse-2026) ## [Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026: the work schools and trusts need to do now](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/kcse-2026) Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 comes into force on 1 September 2026. Until then, KCSIE 2025 remains the statutory guidance schools and colleges must follow. That does not mean the work should wait until September. The summer window is the opportunity to understand what has changed, decide who owns each action and make sure the right arrang... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/kcse-2026) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 602 Hits Sunday, 16 August 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/benedicts-law) ## [Benedict’s Law: Is Your School Operationally Ready for September 2026?](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/benedicts-law) Most schools will have reviewed or updated their allergy policy before September. The harder job is making sure it works across the whole school day.Staff need to recognise anaphylaxis, know where medication is kept and be confident about what to do. That must remain true at lunchtime, during clubs and when the usual member of staff is absent. Bene... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/benedicts-law) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 363 Hits Sunday, 16 August 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/esteem-mat-case-study) ## [How Independent Due Diligence Helped Esteem MAT Make the Right Strategic Decision](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/esteem-mat-case-study) When Esteem Multi-Academy Trust was approached about acquiring an independent provider specialising in one-to-one tuition for young people at risk of exclusion, many of whom had Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), the proposal appeared to fit well with the Trust's long-term ambitions.The organisation's specialist expertise offered t... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/esteem-mat-case-study) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 646 Hits Sunday, 26 July 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [Case Studies](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/case-studies) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/academy-trust-handbook-2026) ## [Academy Trust Handbook 2026: What Has Changed and What Trusts Should Do Next](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/academy-trust-handbook-2026) The Department for Education has published the Academy Trust Handbook 2026, which comes into effect on 1 October 2026. This year's changes cover inclusion, financial competence, digital standards, procurement, workforce decisions and public transparency. Some will affect decisions trusts are already making, including senior appointments, contract r... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/academy-trust-handbook-2026) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 1552 Hits Sunday, 26 July 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/gag-pooling-not-about-money) ## [GAG Pooling for Academy Trusts: It’s Not Really About Money](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/gag-pooling-not-about-money) GAG pooling is a spreadsheet conversation right up until the point it is not. Then it becomes a conversation about fairness, identity, trust, control and whether the phrase 'one trust' actually means anything when money starts moving away from the school gate. That is why it can make sensible people behave defensively. It is not because school lead... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/gag-pooling-not-about-money) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 380 Hits Sunday, 26 July 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/payroll-numbers-when-moving) ## [The Importance of Reporting Previous Payroll Numbers Correctly When Moving to a New Payroll Provider](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/payroll-numbers-when-moving) Ensure a smooth transition and maintain accurate HMRC records Most payroll migrations go smoothly. The problems often don't appear until weeks later, when HMRC starts treating an employee as though they've started a completely new employment. One of the most common causes is a change in payroll number that hasn't been reported correctly. Because pa... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/payroll-numbers-when-moving) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 406 Hits Sunday, 26 July 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/is-your-trust-prepared) Featured ## [Cyber security in schools and academy trusts: Is your trust prepared?](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/is-your-trust-prepared) Most trust boards would say they take cyber security seriously. They will probably have policies in place, staff will have completed phishing training, and somebody will be responsible for software updates and backups. But could the trust continue operating safely after a serious cyber incident? That is a harder question to answer. The Government's... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/is-your-trust-prepared) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 335 Hits Sunday, 26 July 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/enable-trust) ## [Growing a trust without losing its purpose](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/enable-trust) Enable Trust case study Explore how Keystone's insightful finance and mentoring services gave Enable Trust stronger alignment, greater clarity, and increased confidence across its leadership team. About the trust Enable Trust is a multi-academy trust based in the Southwest of England, focused on supporting children wi... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/enable-trust) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 457 Hits Monday, 15 June 2026 [Case Studies](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/case-studies) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/procurement-in-schools-and-trusts-how-to-buy-well-without-getting-into-trouble) ## [Procurement in schools and trusts: how to buy well without getting into trouble](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/procurement-in-schools-and-trusts-how-to-buy-well-without-getting-into-trouble) A contract rolls over because everyone is busy. A trusted supplier gets another year because changing feels risky. A purchase sits below a threshold, so nobody thinks much process is needed. In schools and trusts, procurement problems are rarely caused by one major decision. More often, they come from small assumptions that build up over time. Peop... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/procurement-in-schools-and-trusts-how-to-buy-well-without-getting-into-trouble) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 496 Hits Sunday, 07 June 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/scaling-a-mat-becomes-much-harder-when-payroll-and-hr-are-fragmented) ## [Scaling a MAT becomes much harder when payroll and HR are fragmented](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/scaling-a-mat-becomes-much-harder-when-payroll-and-hr-are-fragmented) As multi-academy trusts grow, payroll and HR processes often come under pressure very quickly. What works in a smaller trust can become much harder to manage once more schools, more staff and more local variation are added into the mix. In many cases, the issue is not that payroll stops running or HR stops functioning. The challenge is that the cen... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/scaling-a-mat-becomes-much-harder-when-payroll-and-hr-are-fragmented) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 548 Hits Sunday, 07 June 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/how-falling-birth-rates-are-changing-more-than-admissions-numbers) ## [How falling birth rates are changing more than admissions numbers](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/how-falling-birth-rates-are-changing-more-than-admissions-numbers) School leaders are entering a new era where reputation, retention, and long-term planning matter more than ever. For decades, many schools planned around growth. Rising pupil numbers supported expansion, increasing budgets, recruitment activity and long-term development planning. But across England, that environment is beginning to shift. Falling b... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/how-falling-birth-rates-are-changing-more-than-admissions-numbers) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 542 Hits Sunday, 07 June 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/could-your-school-be-missing-out-on-funding-grants-and-opportunities-available-in-2026) ## [Could your school be missing out on funding? Grants and opportunities available in 2026](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/could-your-school-be-missing-out-on-funding-grants-and-opportunities-available-in-2026) With schools continuing to face rising costs, increasing SEND demand and growing pressure on budgets, many leaders are looking beyond traditional funding streams to support their pupils, staff and facilities. Grants can provide valuable financial support for everything from technology upgrades and wellbeing initiatives to SEND provision and major c... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/could-your-school-be-missing-out-on-funding-grants-and-opportunities-available-in-2026) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 1054 Hits Sunday, 07 June 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/school-growth-challenges) ## [Processes that worked at 3 schools don’t always work at 15](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/school-growth-challenges) Why growth changes the operational demands behind multi-academy trusts Growth does not just increase the number of schools within a trust. It changes the operational demands behind how those schools work together day to day.What once worked effectively across a small number of schools can quickly become harder to manage consistently at scale. Proce... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/school-growth-challenges) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 643 Hits Tuesday, 19 May 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/the-payroll-problems-schools-dont-talk-about) Featured ## [The Payroll Problems Schools Don't Talk About](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/the-payroll-problems-schools-dont-talk-about) Payroll in schools is expected to be straightforward: staff are paid correctly, on time, every time. But in reality, it's one of the most complex and high-risk administrative functions in education - and one many schools quietly struggle to manage. Not because teams aren't capable, but because the demands have outgrown the way payroll is ... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/the-payroll-problems-schools-dont-talk-about) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 1244 Hits Friday, 01 May 2026 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/strengthening-governance-and-inclusion-keystones-impact-at-pickwick-academy-trust) ## [Strengthening Governance and Inclusion: Keystone’s Impact at Pickwick Academy Trust](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/strengthening-governance-and-inclusion-keystones-impact-at-pickwick-academy-trust) Explore how Keystone's insightful internal scrutiny services gave Pickwick Academy Trust detailed governance reviews, EDI-focused evaluations, and confidence in compliance, helping the Trust drive continuous improvement with clarity and assurance. The Client Pickwick Academy Trust is a primary-only multi-academy trust of 2... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/strengthening-governance-and-inclusion-keystones-impact-at-pickwick-academy-trust) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 1037 Hits Wednesday, 12 November 2025 [Case Studies](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/case-studies) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/is-day-to-day-school-improvement-your-pathway-to-internal-scrutiny-1) ## [Are you conducting hidden internal scrutiny?](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/is-day-to-day-school-improvement-your-pathway-to-internal-scrutiny-1) Using an external partner for internal scrutiny can be a worrying task, with your procedures and practices being put under scrutiny and tested for weaknesses. But is internal scrutiny really a scary prospect? Schools and trusts are already carrying out internal scrutiny routinely, often on a day-to-day basis, it just isn't nece... [ Continue reading](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/is-day-to-day-school-improvement-your-pathway-to-internal-scrutiny-1) [ 0 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) 1842 Hits Friday, 01 March 2024 [General](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/categories/general) [ ![Keystone Knowledge](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/easyblog_avatar/924_keystone-knowledge-blog.png) ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone) [ First Page ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) [ Previous Page ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) [ 1 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/javascript:void(0);) [ 2 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone?start=20) [ 3 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone?start=40) [ 4 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone?start=60) [ 5 ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone?start=80) [ Next Page ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone?start=20) [ Last Page ](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/blog/blogger/keystone?start=80)