Dear School Leaders,
Thank you to the 500+ schools that participated in last year’s Financial Survey for Schools (FSS). Your continued support is helping drive stronger, more informed financial stewardship across the sector. This year, we’ve made significant improvements—designed to save you time and deliver insights faster than ever.
🚀 | What’s new in 2026
The process is now dramatically simpler: You can easily key the data or send us your Financial Questionnaire (FQ) and Student and Staff Census (Excel files downloaded via SchoolsHUB), and we’ll upload everything for you into the FSS. (Note: 2026 FQ not yet released by Department of Education. We hope there re no format changes.)
✔ No data dissection required to produce your KPI report
✔ Optional additional data entry to unlock deeper insights and ratios.Even better—2025 reporting is expected by mid-May, around three months earlier than previous years.
📊 | Why it matters
Once available, your reports will deliver:
> Instant KPI benchmarking against similar schools using current year and prior year ratios indexed by 3.1%
> Insights and informed action using both current and historical survey data and budget data
> Use the Staff Estimator and Financial Sustainability Planner to inform strategy.Once your data is in the system, the Somerset Education Team is just a phone call away if you need advice or guidance.
This timing aligns more closely with the presentation of your 2025 audited accounts, strategic planning, and budgeting.🗓️ | Important dates
> Tuesday 7 April 2026: Data entry for 2024 closes and 2025 opens
> Mid-May 2026: Reporting for 2024 closes and 2025 reporting opens.🎥 | Walk through FSS with John
> Watch this awesome, 10-minute video on the features of the FSS: https://vimeo.com/1182141507Q | Any questions?
For FSS, budgeting, reporting tools, or financial governance training contact us via email survey@somerseteducation.net; or telephone 1300 781 968 (International +61 7 3263 5300).