Biggest trust boss doesn't back DfE's academy trust vision

The chief executive of England’s biggest academy chain has said he does not believe all schools should have to join multi-academy trusts (MATs).

The comments put Sir Jon Coles, chief executive of United Learning and a former Department for Education director-general, at odds with the government’s recent white paper vision for an all-MAT system by 2030.

Speaking during a talk about MAT governance at the Festival of Education, Coles said he was “completely non-ideological about this”.

“I don’t feel like everybody has to join a MAT. I know the government might have a different view.”