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 widely discussed journey, this session explores the realities behind implementing a pooled funding model, from cultural resistance and operational complexity to the leadership mindset required to make collective decision-making work. Designed for CFOs and COOs navigating difficult financial decisions, the session will examine how trusts can move beyond debates around “top slicing vs pooling” and instead focus on building genuine organisational alignment, transparency, and equity across schools. Attendees will gain practical insights into balancing local agency with trust-wide responsibility, communicating difficult change, and creating funding approaches that support both sustainability and consistent outcomes for every child across the trust.