Meetings of regional advisory boards to advise on decisions about academy moves and sponsorship are on hold during the pre-election period, the Department for Education has confirmed.
In addition, minutes from regional advisory board meetings in April that were not already published when the election was called will not be released during this period of purdah.
The move has sparked concern about schools and academy trusts being “left in limbo”, as well as about the need for transparency regarding matters of “great importance and public interest”.
Purdah is the period during the run-up to an election when officials are supposed to observe discretion over making new announcements or decisions that could influence voters.
Delays in decisions on MAT growth
One chief executive of a multi-academy trust with schools waiting to join it told Tes: “It’s concerning because there are some schools that are in need of sponsorship and any delay to decisions on that will be an issue.
“There is a worry we might have to wait until the autumn. And then those schools that need support will be left in limbo.”
Five regions have not published any minutes from advisory board meetings since the 4 July election was announced on 22 May: London, the North East, Yorkshire, the West Midlands and the East Midlands. Of these, all but the North East had published draft meeting agendas for April.
Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said his union could see how new academy decisions may fall under purdah rules, “hence the rationale for regional advisory boards not meeting during this period”.
But the union “can see no reason why the minutes of former meetings should not be published”, he added.
“There should always be full transparency about academy decisions, as this is clearly a matter of great importance and public interest.”
It is unclear whether decisions are still being made by regional directors during purdah without the input of advisory boards. Tes put this question to the DfE but did not receive a definitive answer.
Routine work ‘carries on’
Leora Cruddas, chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), said: “The Cabinet Office guidance is clear that in most cases routine work and decision making carry on.”
The DfE has said that “in cases where individual decisions are particularly political sensitive, regional directors will look at whether to pause them on a case-by-case basis”, she added.
CST is keeping in touch with members and the DfE to monitor this and “minimise the impact of any delays”.
The DfE has already confirmed that no decision on teacher pay for 2024-25 will be made until after the election.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency also confirmed in a letter to trust accounting officers that it would pause communicating anything “new or novel” in the pre-election period.
This includes the update for the Academy Trust Handbook for the coming academic year.
Unions have warned that the delay in publishing the updated handbook will likely mean increased workload for leaders during the holidays as they deal with its implications late in the summer term.
Trusts have also been told that the Budget Forecast Returns deadline for 2024 will be extended until 29 August to allow them “the opportunity to factor any post-election announcements into their return”.
The role of regional advisory boards
The DfE’s regional directors are responsible for making decisions on how trusts grow and which trusts are best suited to run particular schools, as well as on significant changes to schools.
There are nine regional advisory boards, which each consist of up to eight members. The members “advise and challenge” regional directors at monthly meetings. The DfE makes it clear that advisory board members are not decision makers.
Tes publishes highlights from regional advisory board meetings each month as part of its MAT Tracker.
You can also find Tes’ MAT Tracker interactive map, which give up-to-date information on academy trusts across the country, here.
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