This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/jun/28/academy-trusts-schools-chain

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
All-academy future: the drive continues All-academy future: the drive continues
(2 months later)
Schools may not just be forced to become academies, they may have to become part of a multi-academy trust (Mat) too. That’s the message seemingly being given – before last week’s referendum verdict threw the whole of politics into uncertainty – to headteachers by England’s regional schools commissioners. These are the eight super-officials who, as we reported last time, seem to have been tasked with enforcing ministers’ vision of an all-academy future.Schools may not just be forced to become academies, they may have to become part of a multi-academy trust (Mat) too. That’s the message seemingly being given – before last week’s referendum verdict threw the whole of politics into uncertainty – to headteachers by England’s regional schools commissioners. These are the eight super-officials who, as we reported last time, seem to have been tasked with enforcing ministers’ vision of an all-academy future.
Reports reach us of this theme being conveyed by two more RSCs in recent days. At one meeting last week, we hear, a commissioner said: “It is no longer a question of why we should be moving towards a world of wholesale academisation, but how it will be best achieved.” The official then added that this will be “the world according to Mats”.Reports reach us of this theme being conveyed by two more RSCs in recent days. At one meeting last week, we hear, a commissioner said: “It is no longer a question of why we should be moving towards a world of wholesale academisation, but how it will be best achieved.” The official then added that this will be “the world according to Mats”.
The education white paper makes clear that single academy trusts are to be allowed in some circumstances, but they are clearly not the preferred route. Indeed, slides from a talk in Birmingham this month by the national schools commissioner, Sir David Carter, show that multi-academy trusts seem to be favoured. He says: “Where possible, the ‘all through’ [age] 0-19 Mat makes sense of the learning progression of children.”The education white paper makes clear that single academy trusts are to be allowed in some circumstances, but they are clearly not the preferred route. Indeed, slides from a talk in Birmingham this month by the national schools commissioner, Sir David Carter, show that multi-academy trusts seem to be favoured. He says: “Where possible, the ‘all through’ [age] 0-19 Mat makes sense of the learning progression of children.”
Backlash over ‘good’ school takeover planBacklash over ‘good’ school takeover plan
In Nottingham a school that appeared to have been turned around successfully last June on receiving a “good” verdict from Ofsted is nevertheless on the verge of a forced takeover.In Nottingham a school that appeared to have been turned around successfully last June on receiving a “good” verdict from Ofsted is nevertheless on the verge of a forced takeover.
Bulwell, a standalone secondary academy with a challenging catchment, has allegedly been targeted by the local RSC, Jennifer Bexon-Smith, for transfer to a local chain – the Torch Academy Gateway Trust, led by its £270k-a-year chief executive, John Tomasevic – after its GCSE results dipped last summer.Bulwell, a standalone secondary academy with a challenging catchment, has allegedly been targeted by the local RSC, Jennifer Bexon-Smith, for transfer to a local chain – the Torch Academy Gateway Trust, led by its £270k-a-year chief executive, John Tomasevic – after its GCSE results dipped last summer.
Related: Government presses on with plan for all-academy England
Sources at the school said its management was told by a member of Bexon-Smith’s staff last week that the DfE wanted all schools to be academies in chains of at least 10. We understand staff were also told Torch was seen as the only viable local multi-academy trust, “as [other] Mats are not willing or don’t have the capacity to take on challenging schools”.Sources at the school said its management was told by a member of Bexon-Smith’s staff last week that the DfE wanted all schools to be academies in chains of at least 10. We understand staff were also told Torch was seen as the only viable local multi-academy trust, “as [other] Mats are not willing or don’t have the capacity to take on challenging schools”.
Sources close to the outgoing headteacher, Paul Halcro, say he knew nothing of the transfer plan until staff brought rumours about it to his attention.Sources close to the outgoing headteacher, Paul Halcro, say he knew nothing of the transfer plan until staff brought rumours about it to his attention.
A backlash has begun. Bexon-Smith has been sent a letter by the local authority that points to Torch’s struggles to improve two academies in Nottingham, despite an “alarmingly high” 41 pupils having been permanently excluded from one, Djanogly city academy, in 2014-15. The letter praises Bulwell’s recent progress and commitment to inclusion.A backlash has begun. Bexon-Smith has been sent a letter by the local authority that points to Torch’s struggles to improve two academies in Nottingham, despite an “alarmingly high” 41 pupils having been permanently excluded from one, Djanogly city academy, in 2014-15. The letter praises Bulwell’s recent progress and commitment to inclusion.
Halcro said: “The DfE is pursuing a policy based on ideology rather than evidence. Being graded ‘good’ by Ofsted does not seem good enough for the DfE … Mats are being encouraged to expand when they do not have the capacity.”Halcro said: “The DfE is pursuing a policy based on ideology rather than evidence. Being graded ‘good’ by Ofsted does not seem good enough for the DfE … Mats are being encouraged to expand when they do not have the capacity.”
A spokesman for Torch said the trust “has a strong track record of working with Nottingham city schools. In 2015, two of our Nottingham city schools moved out of special measures and our commitment to improving education in Nottingham has been recognised by the city council. We do not feel it is appropriate to confirm or deny any possible future partnership working arrangements.”A spokesman for Torch said the trust “has a strong track record of working with Nottingham city schools. In 2015, two of our Nottingham city schools moved out of special measures and our commitment to improving education in Nottingham has been recognised by the city council. We do not feel it is appropriate to confirm or deny any possible future partnership working arrangements.”
Nottingham schools were recently castigated by the chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw.Nottingham schools were recently castigated by the chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw.
Spotlight on Bright Tribe’s accountsSpotlight on Bright Tribe’s accounts
Has Bright Tribe, the academy chain at the centre of an Observer investigation, breached a government regulation stipulating how trusts should be governed?Has Bright Tribe, the academy chain at the centre of an Observer investigation, breached a government regulation stipulating how trusts should be governed?
The 2014-15 version of the academies financial handbook, one of several DfE documents setting out schools’ governance and accounting requirements, says trusts have to set up audit committees, which scrutinise financial risks, on which their employees should not sit. Yet Bright Tribe’s 2014-15 accounts list two of the three members of its audit committee as Kathy Kirkham, who that year was its director of schools and then its chief operating officer – so seemingly an employee – and Anna Sarginson, who is its director of business services.The 2014-15 version of the academies financial handbook, one of several DfE documents setting out schools’ governance and accounting requirements, says trusts have to set up audit committees, which scrutinise financial risks, on which their employees should not sit. Yet Bright Tribe’s 2014-15 accounts list two of the three members of its audit committee as Kathy Kirkham, who that year was its director of schools and then its chief operating officer – so seemingly an employee – and Anna Sarginson, who is its director of business services.
The third member was a charity, Helping Hands Trust, set up by businessman Michael Dwan, who founded Bright Tribe. The accounts say he represented Helping Hands on the audit committee.The third member was a charity, Helping Hands Trust, set up by businessman Michael Dwan, who founded Bright Tribe. The accounts say he represented Helping Hands on the audit committee.
The Observer article centred on the use by Bright Tribe and another chain set up by Dwan, the Adventure Learning Academy Trust, of support service companies owned or part-owned by him. Dwan has maintained throughout that his businesses have not profited from such arrangements, and that he has donated millions of pounds to the academies.The Observer article centred on the use by Bright Tribe and another chain set up by Dwan, the Adventure Learning Academy Trust, of support service companies owned or part-owned by him. Dwan has maintained throughout that his businesses have not profited from such arrangements, and that he has donated millions of pounds to the academies.
Sarginson’s LinkedIn page lists her as a “secondee” to Bright Tribe but the trust would not say whether she was employed by it or by the company listed there as her previous employer, Equity Solutions, which is owned by Dwan.Sarginson’s LinkedIn page lists her as a “secondee” to Bright Tribe but the trust would not say whether she was employed by it or by the company listed there as her previous employer, Equity Solutions, which is owned by Dwan.
Bright Tribe said: “Bright Tribe’s accounts fully comply with the Academies Financial Handbook, and these have been confirmed by the Education Funding Agency and external auditors. We trust that you will not attempt to deliberately misrepresent the facts in relation to this matter.”Bright Tribe said: “Bright Tribe’s accounts fully comply with the Academies Financial Handbook, and these have been confirmed by the Education Funding Agency and external auditors. We trust that you will not attempt to deliberately misrepresent the facts in relation to this matter.”
A DfE spokesman said: “The Education Funding Agency has reviewed the financial management and governance arrangements of [Bright Tribe] schools and the auditors raised no issues in their audit opinion on the published accounts”.A DfE spokesman said: “The Education Funding Agency has reviewed the financial management and governance arrangements of [Bright Tribe] schools and the auditors raised no issues in their audit opinion on the published accounts”.