Reviewing staffing costs
Guidance to help governing boards ensure that the staffing structure supports strategic priorities, meets the needs of pupils and is financially sustainable.

The recruitment and deployment of staff in schools and trusts is largely an operational activity carried out by leaders and business professionals. The governing board is responsible for ensuring that the staffing structure supports strategic priorities and meets the needs of pupils while remaining financially sustainable. This is a recognised characteristic of an efficient school or trust.
In practice, boards review staff deployment and costs when:
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planning and setting the budget - see our budget setting guides for maintained schools and trusts
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collaborating with school/trust leaders to design an affordable and sustainable curriculum - see our guide to integrated curriculum and financial planning
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reviewing proposed changes to the staffing structure put forward by school/trust leaders
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(in trusts) considering the sustainability of executive leader remuneration - see our executive pay guidance for trust boards
Detailed scrutiny of staffing deployment and costs is usually undertaken by a finance and resource committee. In multi academy trusts (MATs), the extent to which the academy committee (local governing body) is involved should be set out in the trust's scheme of delegation.
This page covers:
- using data to evaluate your staffing costs
- taking action in your context
- resources that can help
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