Financial sustainability is a key focus for all academy trusts, with the main challenges being that recurring income does not always match increasing costs. This, combined with falling pupil rolls can rock an already uncertain financial boat. Whilst there is a general view that there will always be sufficient funding to ensure schools remain financially viable, there is no certainty over this as revealed in the 12th Kreston Academy Benchmarking Report. The report shows that 47% of trusts had an in-year deficit, and on average the surplus is down on last year between 83% and 95%. Schools saw three additional income streams in 2022/23: Mainstream Schools Additional Grant, Schools Supplementary Grant and the Energy Efficiency Grant. The figures suggest that without these grants, most trusts would have been in a deficit position for the year.