Chris Trantham
Audit Director and Responsible Individual, Bishop Fleming LLP
Chris has worked with the academy sector since its creation in 2010 and now leads academy operations at Bishop Fleming, overseeing training, development, and an annual programme of sector events. He has worked with more than 40 trusts, advising on growth and helping school trusts shape their strategic journey.
Chris is a contributor to the Kreston Academy Benchmarking Report, leading the data analysis that underpins its insights. Each year, he and his team sift through vast amounts of financial information to identify trends and deliver clarity, enabling trust leaders to benchmark effectively and make informed decisions.
In addition to his benchmarking work, Chris represents the profession in national forums, including the DfE’s Academy Accounts Direction working group and the counter-fraud working group, and has helped shape sector reporting through DfE good practice guides. His focus on data-driven insight ensures his benchmarking contributions are both rigorous and practical for trust leaders.
09:30
1 Main programme
State of play: 2026 benchmarks for the trust sector
This keynote marks the publication of the 14th Annual Kreston UK Academies Benchmarking Report 2026, based on the financial data of over 260 trusts. The lead authors of the report will discuss the benchmarks that form the financial and operational baselines in school trusts for the next wave of education reforms and highlight the key trends that indicate our sector’s health, resilience and capacity for change.