2020 has been a year like no other. The education sector has shown immense resilience, and has risen to the challenge of partial and full lockdowns whilst coping with constant uncertainties around exams, free school meals, deep cleans and other operational areas. On the surface the financial position shows that Trusts have managed to control their budgets, resulting in surpluses across the sector. But if we dig deeper we can see that it is not that simple.