EXCLUSIVE: Academies given £8m over 3 years to make staff redundant – despite teacher shortage

A Schools Week investigation reveals the hidden costs behind transforming failing schools The government has granted nearly £8 million to academies so they can dismiss staff – as many schools buckle under a recruitment crisis. Figures obtained under the Freedom … Continue reading →

Schools ordered to become academies set to close because no one will sponsor them

Schools ordered to become academies set to close because no one will sponsor them Church academy trust says it is not able to take on two church schools that were issued with directive academy orders Two primary schools that were … Continue reading →

Exclusive: ‘Scant’ evidence that forced primary academisation works, say heads

Urgent need for research into whether academisation can improve schools, according to new ASCL review of primary accountability A rethink is needed on forcing “inadequate” schools to become academies as the policy is putting off headteachers from taking on challenging … Continue reading →

Future of academisation in doubt, spending watchdog warns

Heads’ leader warns that struggling schools are being ‘left in limbo’ by delays converting them into academies The government’s flagship academies programme is running into increasing challenges, a report by the government spending watchdog has said. Today’s report from the … Continue reading →

National Audit Office academies report: The key findings

The system used by the government to convert local authority-maintained schools into academies is under National Audit Office scrutiny. The government spending watchdog has published a report looking at the progress of the academies programme, in the context of recent … Continue reading →

Dozens of academy schools need bailouts from taxpayers

Dozens of academy schools need bailouts from taxpayers Flagship schools under pressure as beleaguered trusts face mounting deficits Operators of dozens of academy schools are having to rely on emergency handouts from the taxpayer as a result of mounting deficits … Continue reading →

Harris Federation’s Sir Dan Moynihan becomes first £500,000 academy boss

Pay rise, pension contributions and national insurance take Harris Federation CEO’s package to at least £550,000 The chief executive of the Harris Federation has become the first academy leader in the country to break through the £500,000 pay barrier. Sir … Continue reading →

White Woods academy welcomes 13th member to trust

A TWELVE-strong academy trust is welcoming a 13th member to its group. Anston Park Infant School has begun the process of joining White Woods Primary Academy Trust. White Woods was established by three self-converting Rotherham primary schools in September 2013 … Continue reading →

Sponsors for WCAT schools have ‘variable’ school improvement record

The government needs to explain why it picked certain trusts as sponsors for the schools that belonged to the collapsed Wakefield City Academies Trust, a former shadow education secretary has said, after it emerged they had a variable record of … Continue reading →

Academies given less than two weeks to justify high salaries

The ESFA has written to the chair of trustees at 29 standalone academy trusts, including 13 ‘at risk of financial difficulties’. Academy trusts paying leaders more than £150,000 have been given until next Friday to explain their “rationale” to the … Continue reading →