Making every pound count: what governors and trustees need to know about the new Maximising Value for Pupils programme

In this guest blog, the Department for Education (DfE) outlines its Maximising Value for Pupils programme, highlighting support available to schools and trusts to improve value for money and make every pound work for pupils.

Blog

07/07/2026

The Department for Education (DfE) launched the Maximising Value for Pupils programme last December - offering new support to schools and trusts to maximise value from the investment in the school system, so every pound delivers for children.

As governors and trustees, you have a critical role in ensuring your school or trust spends public money wisely and in the best interests of pupils. This programme is directly relevant to that responsibility.

What is the Maximising Value for Pupils Programme?

Schools and trusts are experienced in making tough decisions to manage costs and protect quality, and we know there is excellent practice across the sector, with schools and trusts proactively finding ways to secure better value from their resources.

The Maximising Value for Pupils programme is a partnership with the sector to spread this effective practice and remove national barriers that drive up costs, helping schools and trusts get better value so more funding can be focused on pupils.

For governing boards, the key question is what support and tools you can use locally (and what you can ask leaders to evidence) to reduce avoidable costs and improve value for money.

Three initiatives governors and trustees should know about right now

DfE Energy for Schools

Energy represents one of the most significant non-staffing expenses for schools.

The DfE Energy for Schools initiative aggregates buying power across the sector, providing protection from market volatility and sudden price increases driven by global events.

Following a successful pilot more than 1,000 schools are now benefitting from the scheme. Benchmarking shows a typical primary school could save £4,900 per year on electricity and gas combined, and a typical secondary school could save £23,200.

Ask your senior leadership team whether your school is already on this arrangement, or whether joining it has been explored. If your current energy contract is approaching renewal, it could be an ideal opportunity to join.

A new supply staff framework

In 2023/24 alone, schools spent £1.4 billion on agency staff — a figure the government believes can be substantially reduced. While most supply agencies operate in line with expectations, some have shown exploitative behaviours - focusing on profit maximisation over delivering value to schools and, ultimately, pupils.

The new Supply Teachers and Education Recruitment (STeER) framework agreement, launched in May 2026, has been specifically negotiated to crack down on these practices and deliver significant savings.

The new framework introduces a cap on supplier fees - not on what supply workers are paid - and waives temporary-to-permanent fees after 12 weeks, rebalancing the market in favour of schools without undermining the workforce it depends on. Schools could save between 5% and 24% on the total cost of a supply teacher under the new framework.

Trustees should be aware that from September 2026 trusts must use the framework for their supply staffing needs unless they have an alternative compliant arrangement with rates that do not exceed those available through the framework.

DfE Banking Comparison Tool

The sector collectively holds around £6 billion in reserves, yet many schools and trusts hold cash reserves in accounts that are not generating competitive returns.

The DfE Banking Comparison Tool allows schools and trusts to compare the interest rates on current banking arrangements against other products in the market. The tool helps you see clearly what additional interest income could be earned by moving to a more suitable account - money that could then be reinvested in staff, technology or learning resources.

Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, in North East England, increased its annual income from interest to more than £1 million after overhauling its banking strategy.

Governors and trustees are required to ensure reserves are managed in pupils' best interests. Ask your senior leadership team whether they are using this tool as a straightforward and practical way to support your financial oversight over your school or trust.

In addition, ask your senior leaders to consider whether they may get better value by diversifying your savings through using savings management platforms such as Insignis, which connect schools and trusts to a wide range of UK-regulated banks through one application process.

Governing boards – what to check

The Maximising Value for Pupils programme offers opportunities to unlock value for schools and trusts, but they require active engagement from school leaders and their governing bodies.

Here are three immediate practical steps to consider taking with your senior leadership team:

Determine whether your school or trust could secure better value by signing up to DfE Energy for Schools and reviewing your banking arrangements through the DfE Banking Comparison Tool.
Use the updated DfE Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (FBIT) to examine your financial data and benchmark spending against similar schools and trusts to identify the biggest opportunities to drive value and take advantage of the full range of DfE support available through the programme - including Get help buying for schools, which offers free support to help schools and trusts achieve the best value when purchasing goods and services.
Consider whether your school or trust could benefit from a free visit from a School Resource Management Adviser - an experienced education professional who can provide independent, confidential support.

The Maximising Value for Pupils programme will evolve over time, with new services and tools expected to be added. Stay engaged with DfE updates to take advantage of what’s on offer. As governors and trustees, you are uniquely placed to champion maximising value from the investment in the school system, so every pound delivers for children.