Staffordshire University Academies Trust (SUAT) is in a strong position to support Academy improvement, in all aspects, due to its link to the considerable resources of Staffordshire University.
In a similar way to most MATs SUAT has a central office function. As a single legal entity, SUAT’s central function is designed to enable the company to comply with legal, financial and statutory requirements and to have oversight of the Trust as a whole. The central function receives no core EFA income. It is funded out of the core funds from the member academies. This is done by way of an annual levy against core recurring income (GAG, etc.) on SUAT’s constituent academies. Increasing this levy is a drain on the resources of the member academies and the central function is deliberately designed to provide maximum support at minimal cost to the academies.
However, the benefits of operating as a MAT include the economies of scale of running services centrally and opportunities to set up central expertise that would not be economic at an individual Academy level. The SUAT central team provides more than just a group compliance function as it also offers high quality central expertise and resources that can drive up quality throughout the MAT.
While some central of our central activity is evident through central charges for services, other central activity is less obvious. For example, using our central business team centrally procured supplies (e.g. HR Support) are more cost effective and provide a better service than individually negotiated contracts. However, the charges still likely to go through the individual academies rather than being a visible part of central services.
Another key resource is central expertise. SUAT is linked to the outstanding School of Education at Staffordshire University which gives unrivalled access to staff expertise that supports and help to develop the education provision at member academies. Some of these staff are covered through the central charges whilst others are charged back out, at cost, to academies based on usage of the services. This second model allows for more equitable cost charging based on usage of the service and greater scrutiny of the value of the service.
Core Functions – funded by an annual levy
Strategic Direction and planning
Access to a suite of policies and support for policy and process development
Support for capital building programmes and bid opportunities
Financial Statutory Accounts
DfE / EFA Financial Returns
Legal – Corporate
Strategic Procurement
Strategic Financial Planning (VAT, cash flow)
Strategic Cash Flow
Asset Management Planning
Admissions Policy Planning
Financial Services – budget monitoring
Insurance and Risk Management Coordination
Exchequer Services – Supplier payments / procurement / banking
Policies and procedures
Communications
Employee Benefit Administration
Strategic staffing – (Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Finance Officer, Web support / marketing, Strategic ICT, Estates and Procurement, Learning and Achievement)
Audit – internal and external
Core Functions Chargeable
Operational ICT
HR
Grounds
Catering
All relevant SLAs
EDUCATION
MAT and governance administration
Support for governance at all levels from a professional clerk
Audit of governance and strategic planning for improvement
Education Research by university staff
Services of education Improvement / Support Partner (EIP) and School Improvement Coordination
Support for Foundation Stage by university staff
Support for Community Engagement and Reputation Management by University staff
Participation for staff, at all levels, in bespoke training packages delivered by university staff
Access to conferences and foreign study tours arranged by the School of education
Development of Policies at strategic level
Opportunities to join a network of teaching and support staff at all levels
HR Support for Performance Management and Performance Improvement programmes
Links with University faculties and staff expertise
Annual attendance at the Academies Show for key staff
Support for enrichment and extracurricular activities
Support for Ofsted inspection preparation
Support for development of Academy strategic plan
Additional training opportunities arranged through the outstanding School of education
Access to additional Academy Improvement Support through the School of education’s unrivalled contacts
EIP Support for Performance Management and Performance Improvement programmes
