AET guides: redesigning the central structures of an academy trust

Please note: Academies Enterprise Trust (AET) is now Lift Schools, this post may reference the name of the trust at time of posting.

Last year, at Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), we launched a new central operating model, specifically focussing on our organisational structures. We revised the shape and structure of our organisation with the objective of promoting:

• Alignment across central functions, regions and schools to allow for more efficient and effective delivery of central services.

• Collaboration between functions, schools, and across AET to improve ways of working and sharing of best practices.

• Clarity around the division of roles and responsibilities across AET functions to improve efficiency, effectiveness and speed of decision-making.

The guide underneath may be used by any academy trust looking to refine its central organisational structures. We hope that it will help others to consider some of the key steps that can be taken in a project of this nature.