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E-Act chain loses control of 10 academy schools E-Act chain loses control of 10 academy schools
(35 minutes later)
One of the biggest chains of academies in England is to be stripped of the control of 10 schools, the Department for Education (DfE) says. One of the biggest chains of academies in England is to be stripped of control of 10 schools.
The decision was made after Ofsted inspectors raised serious concerns about the performance of some of the E-Act schools.The decision was made after Ofsted inspectors raised serious concerns about the performance of some of the E-Act schools.
It will remain in control of the further 24 academies in its chain.It will remain in control of the further 24 academies in its chain.
A DfE spokesman said officials were working with E-Act to find new sponsors for the schools. A Department for Education spokesman said officials were working with E-Act to find different sponsors for the schools.
But the DfE would not confirm the identity of them, saying it would be for E-Act to tell parents. A spokesman for the DfE said it had urged the academy provider to reduce its number of academies, but the decision was taken by E-Act.
The DfE would not confirm the identity of the schools, saying it was for E-Act to tell parents.
Financial investigationFinancial investigation
Among the E-Act academies under discussion are believed to be Trent Valley, Sherwood, Dartmouth, Forest, Leeds East and Leeds West academies.Among the E-Act academies under discussion are believed to be Trent Valley, Sherwood, Dartmouth, Forest, Leeds East and Leeds West academies.
Nick Hindmarsh, head of Darmouth Academy in Devon says that his school is improving and about to move into new buildings next term - and that this dispute over the sponsor was a "huge distraction". Nick Hindmarsh, head of Dartmouth Academy in Devon said that his school is improving and about to move into new buildings next term - and that this dispute over the sponsor was a "huge distraction".
The problems were about the sponsor and not the school, he argued, and that it would be "business as usual" for the school.The problems were about the sponsor and not the school, he argued, and that it would be "business as usual" for the school.
An official statement from E-Act says it is working with the DfE to "identify where we are best placed to make a significant difference to our academies".An official statement from E-Act says it is working with the DfE to "identify where we are best placed to make a significant difference to our academies".
A source close to E-Act says that the schools being removed from its control are not being chosen because of poor performance.A source close to E-Act says that the schools being removed from its control are not being chosen because of poor performance.
Instead it reflects where E-Act are less able to support schools - including factors such as their geographical spread across the country.Instead it reflects where E-Act are less able to support schools - including factors such as their geographical spread across the country.
The decision will mean that E-Act will lose control of about a third of its academies.The decision will mean that E-Act will lose control of about a third of its academies.
Such sponsored academies are state funded, but are part of chains run by academy providers.Such sponsored academies are state funded, but are part of chains run by academy providers.
Academy providers are not-for-profit trusts that run groups of schools. Almost 60% of secondary schools in England are now academies.Academy providers are not-for-profit trusts that run groups of schools. Almost 60% of secondary schools in England are now academies.
The decision to remove these schools from E-Act follows recent inspections of almost half of their schools by the Ofsted watchdog.The decision to remove these schools from E-Act follows recent inspections of almost half of their schools by the Ofsted watchdog.
'Extravagant expenses''Extravagant expenses'
The academy provider faced heavy criticism last year in a report from the financial inspectorate, the Education Funding Agency, which warned of a culture of extravagant expenses.The academy provider faced heavy criticism last year in a report from the financial inspectorate, the Education Funding Agency, which warned of a culture of extravagant expenses.
The decision to limit E-Act is likely to raise further questions about the oversight of academy schools and the chains which run some of them.The decision to limit E-Act is likely to raise further questions about the oversight of academy schools and the chains which run some of them.
The Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw has said that academy chains should be open to the scrutiny of Ofsted inspections - in the same way that local authority services can be inspected.The Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw has said that academy chains should be open to the scrutiny of Ofsted inspections - in the same way that local authority services can be inspected.
The DfE says it will take "swift action to address underperformance in all schools - no matter who controls them". Jonathan Simons, head of education at the Policy Exchange think-tank, also says "it is vital that academy chains be inspected by Ofsted, and that data on sponsor performance should be available for scrutiny".
But he says it would be "wrong to use this case to call for schools to remain under local authority control" when academies were helping to raise standards.
The Department for Education says it will take "swift action to address underperformance in all schools - no matter who controls them".
"That is as true for academies and free schools as it is for council-run schools," said a DfE spokesman."That is as true for academies and free schools as it is for council-run schools," said a DfE spokesman.
"We welcome E-Act's decision to hand over a number of their academies to new sponsors."We welcome E-Act's decision to hand over a number of their academies to new sponsors.
"We hope this will mean E-Act can focus on raising standards in their remaining schools.""We hope this will mean E-Act can focus on raising standards in their remaining schools."
Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt said: "Michael Gove is allowing underperformance to go unchecked in academy schools and free schools.Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt said: "Michael Gove is allowing underperformance to go unchecked in academy schools and free schools.
"The complete lack of oversight has meant poor standards of education are allowed to set in. Michael Gove is refusing to take the action that is needed to prevent standards slipping.""The complete lack of oversight has meant poor standards of education are allowed to set in. Michael Gove is refusing to take the action that is needed to prevent standards slipping."