The Kemnal Academies Trust is one of the largest Multi-Academy Trusts in the South and East of England with 45 Special, Primary, Secondary and All Through Academies in the TKAT Family.

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Corporate Services

TKAT has ten central teams that provide support and guidance to our TKAT family of academies.

The purpose of the central teams is to ensure that professional expertise and financial resources are made available to our schools so that all TKAT pupils can achieve their academic and career aspirations within a safe, inclusive and ambitious environment.

Here is an overview of some of the main tasks each team is responsible for:

The TKAT HR & Payroll Team provides managers and employees with information, advice and support on a range of HR & Payroll related matters, including:

  • Workforce Planning and Structuring
  • Managing formal and informal employee relations casework
  • Supporting positive and productive Union relations
  • Safer Recruitment training
  • People Management training
  • Effective performance management
  • Cultural development and promoting diversity and inclusion
  • Currently building capacity to support TKAT Primaries with HR operations
  • Payroll service

The TKAT Finance Team provides guidance and support aids for TKAT academies, including a suite of policies, handbooks, training tools and various google forms. Support from the team includes:

  • Preparation of year-end statutory financial statements and co-ordination of the Trust's external audit
  • Comprehensive academy-based internal scrutiny and audit programme, encompassing finance and other internal controls
  • Support for academy-based annual budget setting and ongoing forecasting throughout the year
  • Responsive strategic planning and financial modeling support
  • Dedicated payroll and pensions team to support academy queries

TKAT's latest annual accounts can be viewed here

The latest information for TKAT academies is available on the schools' financial benchmarking website.

These teams provide Estate, Health & Safety and environment services and statutory duties to TKAT academies.

There is a first-point-of-call service that provides information, support and resources for a wide range of Estates and Health & Safety issues. Management systems are delivered that allow TKAT Academies to manage Estates and Health & Safety effectively and efficiently.

The teams identify, consult, and introduce initiatives that will best serve TKAT Academies in successfully managing Estates and Health & Safety. The team also monitors estate conditions and Health & Safety compliance across the Trust.

  • Advice on reactive maintenance, emergency repairs, minor works plus planned improvements
  • Accident and incident investigation and prevention strategies
  • Online H&S management system, training and document templates
  • 'Competent person' guidance

‘Asset development’ means ensuring our school premises remain ‘fit for purpose’, adapting to operational and educational strategies and changes in circumstances. This team identifies and pursues potential areas for asset development, including project managing DfE ‘significant changes’.

  • Advice, support and project management of changes in land and building use, including liaison with local authorities and DFE as required
  • Individual support to academies to maximise use of assets and increase income
  • Project management of significant changes

This team manages quotes or tender processes for the renewal or replacement of an existing contract. Assistance is given in resolving contract disputes with suppliers, provision of contract management support, assistance in the preparation of contracts and terms and conditions, review of supplier terms and conditions. The team ensures each academy is compliant with relevant procurement procedures and financial regulations.

  • Procurement of goods, supplies and services for individual schools and Trust-wide to maximise value for money
  • Contract management service with dedicated support for catering contracts to maximise value for academies
  • Project Management with dedicated Project Management for large and complex projects 
  • for schools and Trust-wide.

This team manages the catering services contracts with suppliers and assists in the sourcing and purchase of kitchen equipment and ensuring TKAT academies receive the best quality meals and service from catering suppliers.

  • Dedicated Contract management service for catering contracts to maximise value for academies
  • Assistance with managing quote or tender processes for the renewal or replacement of an existing catering contract.
  • Assistance in resolving contract disputes with suppliers
  • Provision of contract management support
  • Assistance in the preparation of contracts and terms and conditions
  • Review of supplier terms and conditions

This team helps to promote the Trust’s corporate identity and brand management, using corporate literature, newsletters, the corporate website, social media and other products to increase TKAT’s media presence.

This team is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of Trust marketing strategies and communications, both externally and internally. They work closely with academies to develop effective communication channels to raise the profile of TKAT academies and help protect the reputation of each one.

This team also supports business development opportunities through income generation, external partnerships and risk management.

  • Marketing guidance and support
  • Support to showcase academy 'good news' to external audiences and stakeholders, to develop and reinforce the identity of academies
  • Management of communication of TKAT news
  • Support management of the Trust’s corporate identity and brand
  • Develop income generation and external partnerships

This team provides help with Governor recruitment, and training including new Governor induction, becoming a Chair of Governors and use of data.

It also provides resources such as access to the National Governance Association materials, templates and year planners. regularly signpost important news and information from the DfE and OfSTED.

The team advises schools and governing bodies on proactive public relations, press releases, PR (crisis management) and responses to media enquiries.

  • Support with governor, chair of governors, and clerk recruitment
  • Provide help with governor training, such as governor induction
  • Advise on governance issues and queries
  • Provide resources such as access to the National Governance Association materials, templates and year planners
  • Signpost important news and information for governors from DFE and Ofsted
  • Advise schools and governing bodies on proactive public relations, press releases, PR (crisis management) and responses to media enquiries

The TKAT IT and Data Team works across 3 main strands: Review, Implement and Maintain:

  1. Review: Regularly reviewing real-world threats and ensure that all sites across the Trust are protected to mitigate cyber-security threats. The second strand of Review is to analyse technical specifications for hardware and software to ensure that we are continually future-proofing our networks, devices and software for efficiency and to make sure that they are fit for purpose to keep up with the changing demands in schools.
  2. Implement: This area of work involves procurement and project roll out; ensuring that trust IT initiatives are successfully implemented into schools. This stage relies heavily on communication between on-site support and business managers so that they can prepare and configure school networks accordingly. Implementation also includes supporting schools with partnerships and training with external IT services, to help skill up and review school strategy around the use of technology in the classroom.
  3. Review: There are discrete regional IT support teams that work in schools to manage and maintain their IT infrastructure, through an agreed SLA between the school and TKAT IT.
  • Google Workspace management, solution support and training
  • Cyber-security support and guidance
  • IT services / hardware purchasing and procurement
  • IT strategy for hardware development and sustainable financial forecasts
  • IT project management
  • Data recovery and reporting for centralised services
  • School IT Managed services
  • Responsibility for the Trust's Data Protection

This team ensures the smooth running of the Atkins Centre, and assists delegates who attend training courses and conferences at the centre, organising catering and generally supporting events to ensure the safety and wellbeing of delegates.

  • A ‘first-point-of-call’ information, support and reception service for The Atkins Centre
  • Assistance with any health, safety or welfare issues to users of The Atkins Centre whilst on site