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Academy chain 'not good enough' Academy chain 'not good enough'
(35 minutes later)
An academy chain has been accused by Ofsted inspectors of not making enough progress, with warnings that the quality of education for too many pupils is "not good enough". An academy chain has been accused by Ofsted inspectors of not making enough progress, with warnings the quality of education for too many pupils is "not good enough".
The E-Act trust runs 23 academies across England and the Ofsted report says pupils from "poor backgrounds do not do well enough" in its schools.The E-Act trust runs 23 academies across England and the Ofsted report says pupils from "poor backgrounds do not do well enough" in its schools.
Last month the academy chain scrapped all its local governing bodies.Last month the academy chain scrapped all its local governing bodies.
E-Act said Ofsted recognised "substantial progress" had been made.E-Act said Ofsted recognised "substantial progress" had been made.
Ofsted carried out a "focused inspection" on schools run by the chain, which in the past had been heavily criticised by inspectors and which two years ago had 10 schools taken away.Ofsted carried out a "focused inspection" on schools run by the chain, which in the past had been heavily criticised by inspectors and which two years ago had 10 schools taken away.
'Too low''Too low'
This latest report commends E-Act for making more progress and adopting a "more robust and direct approach to school improvement".This latest report commends E-Act for making more progress and adopting a "more robust and direct approach to school improvement".
But inspectors say the chain's schools are still not good enough and "more than half are not providing a good standard of education", including five rated as "inadequate". But inspectors say the chain's schools are still not good enough and "more than half are not providing a good standard of education", including five rated as "inadequate".
There is particular criticism of E-Act's secondary schools, with Ofsted saying standards are "too low" and that attempts to improve "have not had enough impact". There is particular criticism of E-Act's secondary schools, with Ofsted saying standards are "too low" and attempts to improve "have not had enough impact".
Ofsted's report follows last week's tough criticism of England's biggest academy chain, AET, which was accused of "failing too many pupils".
E-ACT's 23 schools are spread across England, with clusters in places including the West Midlands, Buckinghamshire, Bristol, Yorkshire and the North West.E-ACT's 23 schools are spread across England, with clusters in places including the West Midlands, Buckinghamshire, Bristol, Yorkshire and the North West.
Academy chains receive public funding to operate schools, with E-Act's accounts up to August 2014 showing an income of £135m.Academy chains receive public funding to operate schools, with E-Act's accounts up to August 2014 showing an income of £135m.
The report from Ofsted says that since joining E-Act, six of the 23 academies have declined from their previous inspection grade, six have improved and 10 have remained the same. There is no previous inspection grade for one academy. Ofsted says since joining E-Act, six of the 23 academies have declined from their previous inspection grade, six have improved and 10 have remained the same. There is no previous inspection grade for one academy.
A response from E-Act said the inspectors had recognised improvements had been made, particularly in primary schools.A response from E-Act said the inspectors had recognised improvements had been made, particularly in primary schools.
"Over the past year, we have radically overhauled the way that E-Act is run, and the way that our academies operate, so that children and young people genuinely have an excellent education during their time with us."Over the past year, we have radically overhauled the way that E-Act is run, and the way that our academies operate, so that children and young people genuinely have an excellent education during their time with us.
"This is now beginning to bear fruit, but there is more work to be done.""This is now beginning to bear fruit, but there is more work to be done."
Last month E-Act announced that it was going to scrap local governing bodies, including parent governors, in all of its schools, ending their role of holding schools to account. Last month E-Act announced plans to scrap local governing bodies, including parent governors, in all of its schools, ending their role of holding schools to account.
Instead scrutiny of schools will be carried out centrally by the chain, with the former governing bodies replaced by groups who will be "ambassadors" for the school. Instead scrutiny of schools will be carried out centrally by the chain, with the former governing bodies replaced by groups who will be "ambassadors" for each school.