Governance &
Internal Assurance
We strengthen governance by enabling effective, accountable, and future-ready trust boards
Through independent review, strategic planning, and performance support, we help boards lead with confidence. Our compliant, thematic internal scrutiny provides robust audit, risk, and assurance insights that drive informed decision-making and continuous improvement.
Our support includes:
- External Reviews of Governance
- Strategic board planning and KPI development
- Governance structure design
- Executive team role clarity and performance support
- Internal audit and scrutiny
- Annual internal scrutiny planning
- Thematic reviews (e.g. estates, procurement, HR, risk)
- Audit committee reporting and recommendations
- Follow-up and action planning support
Our expertise
Our team combines first-hand experience serving on trust boards with deep expertise advising hundreds more. We understand governance pressures, DfE expectations, and compliance risk. As specialists across professional fields — including chartered accountants leading finance audits and experts in risk, HR, and procurement — we bring rigour and real-world insight to every review. With a thorough knowledge of the Academy Trust Handbook, we deliver scrutiny that is both compliant and genuinely useful, helping boards lead with confidence and assurance.
Our partnership
We work in partnership with trustees, executives, and clerks to ensure every review is collaborative, developmental, and constructive. Operating with neutrality and care, we focus on providing insight — not just inspection — so that boards and executive teams gain lasting value from the process.
Our innovation
We take an innovative approach to governance and internal audit, using digital tools to make assurance more insightful and efficient. Our board performance dashboards and strategic governance maps help align decision-making across trust and school levels. We bring interactive reporting dashboards, risk heatmaps, and board-ready reporting templates that turn data into clear, actionable insight — strengthening accountability and supporting smarter governance.
Success Story
EPI supported Changing Lives with their internal scrutiny programme across a range of areas of testing, including financial planning, growth, project management and cash management.
“EPI worked with leaders and trustees to design and deliver an internal scrutiny scope that added genuine value, insight and actionable improvements”.
Laura Watson, CFO
Changing Lives Learning Trust
EPI Consulting: Enabling operational excellence in schools and trusts
Growing Your Trust
Our support in onboarding and opening of schools prepares trusts for growth alongside developing a scalable operating model.
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Growing your trust
Our support in onboarding and opening of schools prepares trusts for growth alongside developing a scalable operating model.
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Financial Planning & ICFP
Our expertise in medium term financial planning, curriculum design and staffing models support financial sustainability and maximising value for pupils.
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Financial Planning & ICFP
Our expertise in medium term financial planning, curriculum design and staffing models support financial sustainability and maximising value for pupils.
Read More
Governance & Assurance
Thorough internal scrutiny provides assurance to trustees and regulators, whilst adding value through our deep education knowledge.
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Governance & Assurance
Thorough internal scrutiny provides assurance to trustees and regulators, whilst adding value through our deep education knowledge.
Read More
