MATPN Finance Agenda

MATPN Finance 2026 Agenda

12 November 2026, DoubleTree Hilton, Tower of London, London

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08:00
  1. Registration Desk
    55 mins
09:00
  1. Main Room
    20 mins
    • Strategy & Leadership
    • Finance & Sustainability
    What will the next three years mean for MAT finance leadership? In this keynote, Chris Kirk, Director of CJK, will cut through the noise to share the biggest pressures and opportunities facing trusts, ...
09:20
  1. Main Room
    20 mins
    • Finance & Sustainability
    • Outcomes & Impact
    As pupil numbers decline and financial pressures intensify, many trusts are questioning whether traditional pupil-led funding models are still fit for purpose. In this session, one of the UK’s highest ...
10:05
  1. Main Room
    30 mins
    Our signature ‘Dragons’ Den’ session provides each solution provider with an opportunity to deliver a 60 second pitch, explaining why they are here and how their services can help tackle some of the sector’s ongoing challenges.
10:45
  1. Networking and business meetings
    Networking Area
    90 mins
    10 minute meetings with suppliers who are offering solutions most relevant to your challenges. Please check the schedule on the back of your delegate pass for your meeting timings.
12:20
  1. Main Room
    20 mins
    • Strategy & Leadership
    • Finance & Sustainability
    As more MATs explore GAG pooling to address funding inequity and financial pressure, many are discovering that structural change alone does not guarantee success. Drawing on the lessons from REAch2’s ...
13:00
  1. Networking lunch
    Networking Area
    40 mins
    An opportunity to connect with your peers and suppliers to talk over the learnings from the event. Lunch is served buffet style and a range of options are available to cater for different dietary requirements.
13:45
  1. Main Room
    30 mins
    • Strategy & Leadership
    • Finance & Sustainability
    With reserve levels under pressure and fewer trusts confident about future expansion, many MATs are shifting their focus from growth to short-term resilience. This panel brings together CFOs, COOs and ...
15:00
  1. Networking and business meetings
    Networking Area
    60 mins
    10 minute meetings with suppliers who are offering solutions most relevant to your challenges. Please check the schedule on the back of your delegate pass for your meeting timings.
16:05
  1. Main Room
    20 mins
    • Strategy & Leadership
    • Finance & Sustainability
    With rising costs, uncertain funding settlements, and increasing pressure on already stretched budgets, many MAT leaders are rethinking how trusts can generate sustainable income beyond traditional fu ...
  2. Breakout Room 1
    20 mins
    • Strategy & Leadership
    • Finance & Sustainability
    Plenty of schools and trusts are making hard decisions right now.  The difference is whether those decisions build confidence or fuel distrust.  Lorna shares a practical approach to financial viabilit ...
  3. Breakout Room 2
    20 mins
    • Finance & Sustainability
    • Operations & Service Delivery
    As capital funding pressures continue to grow, MAT leaders are increasingly challenged to make difficult decisions about where limited estates funding should be allocated. This session will share how ...
16:30
  1. Main Room
    40 mins
    • Strategy & Leadership
    • Finance & Sustainability
    • Operations & Service Delivery
    Funding pressure is real — but “there’s not enough money” can become a default narrative that masks where trusts can still unlock capacity, resilience, and better outcomes through smarter operating mo ...
17:20
  1. Networking Area
    30 mins

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Frequently Asked Questions

The agenda is built around the financial, operational, and strategic challenges facing multi-academy trusts today. Expect sessions on financial sustainability, funding models, GAG pooling, reserves management, income generation, estates strategy, workforce costs, operational efficiency, trust growth, governance, and long-term planning. You’ll also hear practical case studies from MAT leaders who are navigating funding pressures while continuing to improve outcomes, strengthen operations, and build organisational resilience.

The event runs over a full day and combines keynote presentations, case study sessions, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and Dragons’ Den speed pitches. You’ll hear directly from CFOs, CEOs, COOs, and sector experts sharing real-world experiences and practical lessons from across the trust sector. The programme also includes sponsor presentations, dedicated networking and business meetings, networking lunch, and a drinks reception, ensuring plenty of opportunities to exchange ideas, build relationships, and explore solutions with peers and partners.

Yes. While main room presentations are open to all delegates, you can select which breakout sessions are most relevant to your institution's current challenges and priorities. Your pre-booked one-to-one meetings are scheduled around the agenda, and you'll have flexibility to attend the sessions that matter most to you.

Yes. You'll also get access to the conference guide with speaker profiles, case studies, and sponsor information. After the event, all delegates receive digital copies of the presentations.