This report from the Education Select Committee looks at the performance of multi-academy trusts (groups of academy schools) and makes recommendations for improving performance and accountability. It may be of particular interest to policy makers and academy school leaders.
Multi-academy trusts
Synopsis
In this report the House of Commons Education Select Committee addresses concerns about the performance, accountability and expansion of multi-academy trusts (MATs). The Committee calls on government ministers to allow local authorities with a track record of strong educational performance to set up their own MATs.
The Committee urges the government to place tighter restrictions on the growth of trusts and recommends independent and robust research into what the highest performing MATs are doing right, and how other MATs can learn from examples of best practice.
The report argues that it is unclear whether the Department for Education or Education Funding Agency can cope with the additional pressure on their financial oversight capabilities the expansion of MATs will create. It also raises concerns around how MATs are assessed by Ofsted and Regional Schools Commissioners.