Sidney Stringer Multi Academy Trust carries an average payment time of 44 days, exceeding the standard 30-day benchmark by nearly two weeks. Only 61% of invoices are settled within 30 days, while 22% fall in the 31–60 day range and a notable 17% extend beyond 60 days. This distribution indicates a persistent tendency toward delayed payment rather than an isolated or improving pattern.
With 39% of payments classified as late, the Trust demonstrates a significant and consistent reliability gap that suppliers should treat as a structural characteristic rather than an anomaly. The spread across both the 31–60 day and over-60-day brackets suggests unpredictable cash flow timing, making it difficult for suppliers to forecast incoming receipts with confidence. This variability introduces meaningful working capital risk, particularly for smaller suppliers operating on tight margins.
Sidney Stringer Multi Academy Trust presents a moderate-to-high payment risk profile, and suppliers should factor extended payment timelines into contract and pricing decisions. As a public sector academy trust, insolvency risk is low, but late payment frequency warrants proactive terms management. Recommended mitigations include negotiating shorter contractual payment windows, applying late payment interest clauses under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act, and maintaining closer invoice follow-up from day 25 onwards.
| Reporting Period | Filing Date | Average Time to Pay (days) | Paid within 30 days | Paid 31-60 days | Paid after 60 days | Not Paid within Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Sept 2025 - 28 Feb 2026 | 24 Mar 2026 | 44 | 61% | 22% | 17% | 39% |
| 01 Mar 2025 - 31 Aug 2025 | 16 Sept 2025 | 57 | 53% | 21% | 26% | 47% |
| 01 Mar 2024 - 31 Aug 2024 | 26 Sept 2024 | 37 | 56% | 32% | 12% | 44% |
This information is as reported by the business, and responses are in their own words.
Standard payment terms
The trust does not have standard payment terms for qualifying contracts, therefore this is based on the contractual payment period of our most commonly used terms for the reporting period. This equates to a 30-day payment period. This period may change where specific payment terms are negotiated and agreed during the procurement process. Only in exceptional circumstance will the trust pay in advance of the delivery of goods and services. Where this is agreed, additional checks will be conducted on the supplier.
Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?
No information available
Any other information about payment terms
No additional information
Maximum contractual payment period agreed
30
At all stages, the trust has regular and open communication with suppliers. Each school within the trust has a dedicated finance email address where suppliers can submit invoices and communicate in relation to payment. Where complaints or disputes arise, the trust obtain and review the facts associated with the complaint/dispute and either FastTrack payment where possible or work with the supplier to resolve the cause of the delay. Where the trust is aware of an issue that may result in delayed payment, proactive communication with suppliers take place in order to minimise this delay.
Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices?
For example, signatories to The Prompt Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.
❌
Does this business offer e-invoicing in relation to qualifying contracts?
This is where suppliers can electronically submit and track invoices. It's not just allowing suppliers to email them an invoice.
❌
Does this business offer supply chain finance?
This is where a supplier who has submitted an invoice can be paid by a third-party finance provider earlier than the agreed payment date. The business would then pay the finance provider the invoiced sum.
❌
Under its payment practices and policies, can this business deduct sums from payments under qualifying contracts as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
❌
During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No information available
SIDNEY STRINGER MULTI ACADEMY TRUST is an active private limited company by guarantee without share capital use of 'limited' exemption, incorporated on 14 August 2008, based in the West Midlands region. Registered business activity: Primary education 85310 - General secondary education.
From Companies House records.