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Across the sector, shared services have become the default operating model for trusts. But while many trusts have centralised functions such as finance, HR, estates and IT, leaders increasingly want to be confident that their shared services are genuinely adding strategic value , not just simply keeping the organisation running. At CJK, we increasingly see trusts asking a different question: " How do we shift from managing problems to enabling performance?" This is the challe

As trusts evolve, their challenges change, from building central functions to integrating, innovating, and sustaining them. Our latest article for Trust Leadership Today distils key lessons from CJK’s research into how successful trusts grow and adapt: 1️⃣ Know your phase – be honest about where you are in your growth journey. 2️⃣ Anticipate the crisis – plan your next operating model shift before it’s forced on you. 3️⃣ Invest in data and systems – technology is the enabler

Introduction The academy trust sector is entering a new chapter. Political uncertainty, tightening budgets, and workforce challenges are driving leaders to consider mergers at a scale not seen before. For some, the motivation is survival; for others, it is the pursuit of capacity, sustainability, and improved outcomes. Yet while mergers can achieve greater economies of scale, they also raise profound questions of culture, identity, and purpose. This report shares the voices o

With 82% of trusts making changes to their operating model - whether to reduce costs, improve quality, prepare for growth or optimise...

To achieve outstanding student outcomes, every role in a trust—whether in education, operations, or leadership—must be valued equally....

There has been a lively debate about the costs of academy trusts’ central services (" Academy trust central teams gobble up £200m ,"...

Our research  on how school trust leadership priorities have changed since 2018 reveals urgent priorities for action including workforce,...

An operating model is a single overview of what your school trust does, and how it does it.  The different elements of your trust, such...

Each summer I get a chance to update the schools and trusts CJK forecasting model, here’s this year’s update.   Points of interest:   1....

MAT CEOs often ask me what is really meant by the term 'operating model'. In this blog I offer my take on what one is, why you need it,...

How can technology and digital transformation drive efficiency and innovation in school trusts? School groups are constantly evolving,...

IMP Software and CJK Associates have partnered to conduct a survey exploring how Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) are evolving their...

We carried out research with 150 academy trust leaders, school leaders, and academy staff, to understand more about making successful...