Many trusts - particularly those that have grown rapidly through academy conversion or MAT expansion - have incomplete or out-of-date statutory records. We can add the complete historical data of a company to the registers we maintain, starting from the date of incorporation, putting your governance records on a sound footing. Pricing begins at £600 + VAT, depending on the volume and complexity of the filing history.

Academy trusts must report related party contracts and agreements to DfE in advance and must obtain prior DfE approval for certain related party contracts over £40,000. This is one of the most frequently mishandled areas of trust compliance. We can help you establish a triage process, draft board papers to evidence compliance, and manage the approval workflow with DfE — before any contract commences or renews.

Trusts must provide details in the governance statement published with their annual accounts, including what has been delegated to committees and, for MATs, to local committees and governing bodies. We can draft or review your governance statement content and assist with your website publication obligations — including your governance structure, scheme of delegation, register of interests, and trustee attendance records.

Many trusts operate trading subsidiaries or special purpose entities alongside the main trust vehicle. We provide company secretarial support for these entities as standalone retainer clients or as part of a group package, including incorporation, statutory filings, and ongoing register maintenance.

We can assist with drafting and reviewing your scheme of delegation, terms of reference for board committees and local governing bodies, articles of association, and other constitutional documents, ensuring they reflect current governance expectations and the requirements of your funding agreement.

Academy trusts are registered companies and charities subject to the full suite of Companies House obligations - including annual accounts filing, confirmation statements, statutory register maintenance, and director/PSC notifications. They are also subject to the DfE's Academy Trust Handbook, with its own governance and transparency requirements. While some trusts manage this in-house, many find that the volume, complexity, and risk of getting it wrong make specialist external support a sound investment. Our retainers cost significantly less than the cost of a single missed filing penalty.

Mandatory identity verification under ECCTA applies to all directors and PSCs. For new appointments, it has been required since 18 November 2025. Existing directors and PSCs have until 18 November 2026 to verify their identity with Companies House. We provide identity verification support under ECCTA and can guide your trust and its directors through the process step by step. If your trust has a large or recently changed board, getting on top of this promptly is important.

The Academy Trust Handbook 2026, in force from 1 October 2026, strengthens expectations across multiple governance areas - including board composition and financial expertise, executive pay controls, procurement discipline, and transparency obligations for MATs. While our CoSec retainer addresses the statutory filing side, we also offer support with governance statements, scheme of delegation reviews, and constitutional documents - ensuring your trust can demonstrate it meets the Handbook's expectations in practice.

Every trust is different. Whether you're a single academy trust with one school, a MAT overseeing 20 or more academies, an FE corporation, or a trust with trading subsidiaries, we shape our support to match your size, structure, and governance needs. Our standard retainer is designed to be accessible for trusts of all sizes and takes the administrative burden off academy staff who are already stretched.

Absolutely. Many trusts use our service to complement their in-house governance professional — handling the technical Companies House filing work and statutory register maintenance, while their governance lead focuses on board effectiveness, policy, and strategy. Our team works alongside yours, with clear responsibilities so nothing falls through the gaps. This is particularly useful during periods of board change, rapid growth, or when preparing for scrutiny.