Schools could ask to switch multi-academy trusts in “exceptional circumstances” in order to join a stronger-performing organisation under plans that the Department for Education is set to consult on.
The new Schools White Paper, published by the DfE today, also says that the government will launch a review into how trusts will be held to account in the future, and this will look at the role of inspection.
The government has said it will consult on the “exceptional circumstances” in which a “good” school could ask the regulator if it could move to a “stronger trust”.
Leora Cruddas, chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, said she was deeply concerned about the proposal that schools could ask to leave a trust.
“This proposal fails to understand that the trust is the legal entity - it is not an ‘authority’ that is somehow separate from its schools,” she said.
White Paper: All schools should be in multi-academy trusts by 2030
Today’s White Paper includes plans for a fully trust-led system with a single “regulatory approach” as the government sets the goal of all schools being in multi-academy trusts by 2030.
This will include academy trusts established by local councils.
The White Paper says: “The government will launch a regulatory review in May 2022 looking at accountability and regulation, including how we will hold trusts to account through inspection in the future.”
It adds that, as part of this future regulatory approach, school leaders and teachers need clarity on how “we define trust strength, and parents will want assurance about the expectations against which trusts are held to account”.
“Therefore, for the first time, we will provide a definition of trust strength,” the paper says.
This includes the following measures:
- High Quality and Inclusive Education - a trust delivers high-quality education across its academies, including for disadvantaged children and children with SEND, and operates fair access. Has effective central leadership teams, strong school leadership and teaching, and uses evidence-based curriculum design and implementation.
- School Improvement - a trust works quickly to improve standards within all its schools, particularly transforming previously underperforming schools and maintaining appropriately performing schools.
- Strategic Governance - a trust operates an effective and robust governance structure that involves schools and exemplifies ethical standards.. Has a strong local identity, engaging effectively with parents and the wider community.
- Financial Management - a trust is underpinned by strong and effective financial management, prioritising the use of resources, including the estate, to deliver the best educational experience for children.
The White Paper says that the DfE knows that trusts typically start to develop central capacity when they have more than 10 schools.
The DfE also says that it will not convert schools to standalone academies but will consider bids for high-quality free schools to open initially as standalone trusts.
It adds that it expects most MATs will be on a trajectory to either serve a minimum of 7,500 pupils or run at least 10 schools.
