Out Now: National School Trust Report 2026
The fifth annual National School Trust Report, published with the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), draws on survey responses from hundreds of trust CEOs across England, sharing their priorities and plans for the year ahead.
What’s new this year (at a glance)
- SEND and inclusion are the year’s defining priority. 75% of trusts are prioritising inclusion and SEND provision, more than any other area, as they prepare for government reform. Over a third already report difficulty recruiting SEND specialists.
- Priorities have shifted, not eased. Quality of education (63%) and inclusion (61%) have overtaken financial sustainability (47%) as the top strategic priority for the first time since 2023. This is a change in focus, not less pressure: most trusts still expect to cut staffing and non staff spend this year, and CEOs who prioritise finance still see it as their toughest challenge.
- Attendance is a close second. 61% of trusts are focused on improving pupil attendance, alongside SEND, as the core classroom priorities for the year ahead.
- Falling pupil numbers is the top financial risk. Along with SEND costs and staffing costs, it’s driving continued caution, even as reported confidence in financial sustainability has ticked up.
- AI is now mainstream. Just 6% of trusts report no formal AI use, up sharply from previous years, with adoption now touching teaching, assessment, staff training and administration.
Who we heard from
CEOs across England representing trusts of all sizes, surveyed in June and July 2026.
What’s inside
Three in depth chapters, Sector Priorities, The Year Ahead, and Foundations, with benchmarks by trust size and practical commentary from sector leaders on finance, inclusion, attendance, operations, AI, workforce and strategic governance.
Revisit key priorities and challenges for trusts in 2025
The fourth annual National School Trust Report, published in partnership with the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), highlights how the school trust landscape is shifting and what leaders plan next.
What’s new this year (at a glance):
- Financial sustainability remains the #1 priority; budget is the biggest barrier (83%).
- Immediate risks: falling pupil numbers 53%, SEND costs 46%, teaching staff costs 37%.
- Planned responses: reduce TA posts 60%, reduce teacher posts 54%; joint procurement 56% and reduced external services 53% to cut non-staff spend.
- In the classroom: trusts will focus on Inclusion/SEND (78%) and attendance (64%).
- AI goes mainstream: 66% piloting or experimenting; 54% training staff.
Who we heard from:
390 trust accounting officers (typically CEOs) across England, surveyed June–July 2025.
What’s inside:
Seven concise chapters, benchmarks by trust size, and practical checklists on finance, inclusion/SEND, attendance, operations and digital strategy, school improvement, and governance.
Revisit key priorities and challenges for trusts in 2024
The third annual report uncovers the key priorities and challenges facing trusts across the country and provides practical, data-driven guidance for addressing them.
Inside, you’ll find valuable insights and expert commentary on:
- Ethical Leadership: See how CEOs tackle new pressures while focusing on pupil outcomes.
- Financial Sustainability: Insights into managing budgets, reserves, and growth.
- Workforce Wellbeing: Strategies for recruitment, retention, and flexible working.
- School Improvement: How trusts achieve excellence across multiple schools.
- Strategic Governance: Explore evolving governance models and stronger accountability.
The report offers actionable strategies and benchmarks to help your trust thrive in an evolving educational landscape.
You can also download the National CST School Trust Report 2024 infographic to unlock key insights at a glance.
Priorities and challenges for trusts 2023
In June 2023, 395 trust accounting officers across England – the senior leader directly responsible to Parliament for their trust – shared their voices with the sector body, the Confederation of School Trusts.
The second annual report uncovers the top priorities for trusts nationally.
Inside, you will find key facts, insights and expert commentary on:
- Current challenges: financial sustainability and growth
- Future priorities: improving the quality of education and workforce development
- Strong and resilient trust insights, governance and accountability, and system leadership and civic responsibility
One of the key findings was that multi-academy trusts are worried about financial stability. Read the TES article here or access the full findings from the 2023 report.
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