Every year, the same question pops up for academy trusts: “What should we include in our internal audit programme?”
To answer that question, you’ll have to answer two more. So, let’s cut through the noise and get straight to it.
Who’s in the driving seat?
The Academy Trust Handbook (ATH) lays it out: every trust needs a programme of internal scrutiny. Why? To give the board confidence that financial and non-financial controls and risk management aren’t just sitting pretty – they’re actually working.
Here’s how that pans out:
- The trust picks the areas to review based on risk (your risk register is your best friend here).
- The board signs off the plan and makes sure risks are being tackled head-on. No tick-boxing. No fluff.
What should make the cut?
The Cooper Parry team has put together a no-nonsense checklist:
✅ Start with the big hitters
Your risk register is the starting line. What’s keeping you up at night? That’s where you need assurance.
✅ New systems, new scrutiny
Changed a process? Rolled out new tech? Add it to the plan. Make sure it’s doing what it says on the tin.
✅ New schools on the block
If you’ve welcomed new schools into the trust, check their financial controls. Are they playing by your rules?
✅ Fix what was broken
If previous audits or external reviews flagged weaknesses, revisit them and prove they’re solid.
✅ Stay ahead of the ATH curve
The latest ATH isn’t optional reading. Build in checks for any new requirements.
✅ Dust off the forgotten corners
If something hasn’t been reviewed in ages, it’s time. No blind spots allowed.
Bottom line?
Your internal audit programme should be risk-driven, forward-thinking, and unapologetically practical – centred on giving your board confidence that the trust is in safe hands.
