Understanding your data guide

This guide aims to encourage both schools and trusts to use educational and financial data when reviewing performance, and supports governors and trustees to engage and challenge the executive teams in their school or academy trust to:

• set the right strategic direction
• improve outcomes for the communities it serves
• discharge its duties responsibly
• take proper account of effective use of the taxpayer’s money
• ensure probity
• manage risks and mitigating actions
• strengthen decision making, by bringing together information to better understand educational performance and financial stability

More information can be found on the Department for Education website including:

• Review and benchmark your finances
• Guidance for governors: what checks to make
• School resource management: training and peer support