£18m academy growth cash shows coasting double standard

The National Education Union has accused ministers of “double standards” after they offered several academy trusts extra funding to take on under-performing schools when some of their own are “coasting”.

New rules this term enable the government to force schools with two consecutive less-than-good inspections into new trusts.

School leaders are also angry about rehashed “coasting” rules, warning against “naming and shaming”.

Last month, the Department for Education awarded £18 million in trust capacity fund (TCaF) grants to 104 trusts with a “focus on supporting strong” trusts to expand.