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Academy chain 'not good enough' | Academy chain 'not good enough' |
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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". | 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. |
The Department for Education said unless standards were improved it would take "further action". | |
The same warning was given last week to England's biggest academy chain, AET, after tough criticism from Ofsted, which accused AET of "failing too many pupils". | |
Ofsted carried out a "focused inspection" on schools run by the E-Act 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 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 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". |
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. |
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. | 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 plans 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 each 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. |
A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "This Ofsted report shows E-Act is beginning to show signs of improvement since its performance was challenged in 2014." | |
"However, too many children are not achieving well enough and the impact of these changes must lead to better results in 2016 and beyond." |