MATs included in DfE financial benchmarking for the first time

According to the EFA's latest Academies Bulletin: "The Department for Education has updated the academies financial benchmarking website with 2013 to 2014 income and expenditure data. For the first time we have included income and expenditure details for academies in multi-academy trusts."

Four London boroughs no longer on deprivation index

The Office of National Statistics has published its 'English indices of deprivation 2015' in which one of its headlines is: 'The 20 most deprived local authorities are largely the same as found for the 2010 Index, but the London Boroughs of Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham and Haringey have become relatively less deprived and no longer feature in this list.'

Academy given powers to issue parking fines

A report from ITV says: 'A school in Thurrock has become the first in the country to be given the power to issue parking fines. From this week, a parent volunteer will begin patrolling the streets around Tilbury Pioneer Academy where there have been growing problems of the roads being clogged by parked cars.'

NGA: Academy founders underestimated charity status

An article in Third Sector magazine includes comments from Emma Knights, CEO of the National Governors Association, comparing the problems of Kids Company with those facing academies - where problems may be caused by what she sees an increasing number of founders being trustees. She said she recently spoke to a

Academy in mid-staff restructure loses head

From the Cornish Guardian - As reported by the Cornish Guardian earlier this year Fowey River Academy, recently part of the Adventure Learning Academy Trust has been undergoing a major staffing restructure with senior teachers required to reapply for their jobs.

Unresolved liabilities issue sees SPTA drop out and Wakefield City move in

The Yorkshire Post reports that prospective sponsor SPTA has been replaced by Wakefield City Academies Trust due to issues related to a fitness centre partnership the Hanson Academy was involved in. The paper reports Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, executive member for education, skills and culture, saying: “The proposed sponsor at the time failed to reach an agreement with the Department for Education relating to buildings liabilities on the site which is why that conversion fell through."

More than 10% of academies haven't submitted budget forecasts on time

The EFA's academies bulletin from August 6 says: 'Reminder: submission of budget forecast returns due 31 July. Nearly 90% of academy trusts open as at 31 March 2015 submitted their budget forecast for the 2015 to 2016 academic year by the deadline of 31 July 2015.'

SAT to sponsor-led MAT application simplified

From the 6 August EFA academies bulletin: 'Changing from a single academy trust to a sponsor-led multi-academy trust Single academy trusts (SAT) applying to become sponsors are no longer required to undertake a separate application to become a multi-academy trust (MAT) through the Department for Education (DfE) significant change process.

Inspiration Trust's takeover of Hewett School coverage

Hewett School in Norwich had a £430k deficit due to falling pupil numbers over nine years -(demographics and/or competition) and was put into Special Measures by Ofsted last year.

AET shelves academy merger to save money

AET has shelved merger plans for two academies and appointed new heads - reports the Essex Chronicle  (story from July 20)

Warning letters to academy trusts

The TES reports that the DfE has updated its list of warning letters to academy sponsors and multi-academy trusts. The latest of these is a warning letter from Dominic Herrington, Regional Schools Commissioner, which was given the title of a 'Pre-Termination Warning Notice Letter to the Directors of Oasis Community Learning.'

Rival bids to run academies

Cambridge News: Cambridgeshire schools’ rival bids to run new Cambridge academy - Impington Village College will be up against Chesterton Community College

Parents upset by secret talks with MAT

Eastern Daily Press reports Sprowston High School is one of the few non-academy secondary schools in greater Norwich, but that could change after it announced a consultation on joining the Norwich-based Right for Success Trust.

Sutton Trust report press round ups

Sutton Trust press release and link to report: Three quarters of academy chains contain schools below ‘coasting’ definition, research finds

Ofsted inadequate linked to growth delay for MAT?

From the Birmingham Mail: PLANS to open the sixth in a chain of Birmingham free schools have been put on hold – weeks after one of them was plunged into special measures...'

Guardian questions Inspiration motives

From the Guardian 'Why would a head feel 'sick' about the positive Ofsted results of a neaby school' - asking if competition for growth distorting values in MATs.

Ormiston Park Academy gets Exec Principal

In June 2015 Your Thurrock reported that Ormiston Park Academy has appointed Julie Bloor, headteacher at Shirebrook Academy (not an Ormiston academy), as executive principle. She will work alongside principal Huw Derrick.

Ark staff moves in Birmingham (May 2015)

From the Birmingham Post in May 2015: 'Oldknow is set to be renamed Ark Chamberlain Primary Academy as it battles to break with its troubled past... Rebecca Garratt, current head teacher at Ark Tindal Primary Academy in Balsall Heath – the school lined up to provide support to Oldknow – will leave the Ark chain at the end of August... '

No details on academies' CIF loans until process complete

The 2015/16 Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) grants were announced in March but there have yet to be any announcements on the level of interest shown by academies in the new loan element. 

In response to a Freedom of Information request the EFA said: ‘We are anxious that colleges be confident that they can afford the repayments and do not feel under undue pressure to take a loan. It is likely that should the negotiation be open to the public at this point in time, there could be direct influence placed on the school leading to hasty decisions being made.’

Labour-led council says it cannot stand in way of Harris expansion

A story in My Local Guardian details £130m plans for schools in Merton showing Harris is likely to be the main beneficiary.

Big MATs spark support for smaller underdogs

Comments following this piece in the EDP suggest support for smaller MATs. The paper reports Mark Farrar, Headteacher at Reepham High School setting up the Synergy Trust.

Norfolk IEB accepts DfE sponsor recommendation without question

The Eastern Daily Press reports interim executive board accepts DfE sponsor recommendation without checking others - last year the paper reported a £430k deficit at the school due to falling pupil numbers.

Yorshire RSC asked to explain sponsor change

The Yorkshire Post reports that Sandhill Multi-Academy Trust has withdrawn its sponsorship of  Brookfield Primary Academy 'following talks with the Department for Education and the regional schools commissioner (Jenny Bexon-Smith)' adding that Wakefield City Academies Trust (WCAT) will take over.

'Coasting', MATs and sponsorship

A look at some of the reports and comment that provide some interesting context around the impact of 'coasting' on sponsors and MATs and their financial ability to take on struggling schools.

Rival bidders for free school join forces

This report in the Northamptonshire Telegraph said Maplefields Teaching School Alliance and Brooke Weston Academy Trust had merged their bids to create a special free school in Corby.

Ramifications of closure of Oasis Academy Hextable

Kent Online looks at issues facing Kent County Council after the closure of Oasis Academy in Hextable. Oasis Community Learning statement on the closure of the academy.
According to OCL's 2013/14 accounts the academy had a £158k net funds deficit, the accounts also show that OCL charged the school £141,000 central services over the period (Sept 13 - August 14).

A look at education manifestos

Full Fact has a  breakdown of the election manifestos of political parties for the May 2015 General Election including a section on academies - and independent expert commentary from the National Foundation for Educational Research which questions the commitment of major parties to clarity on governance and Ofsted. (May 1 Fullfact also published Academies and maintained schools: what do we know? )

The BBC has a party-by-party list of education policies.

If you want to find out what you think before attaching party labels to policies take the voteforpolicies.org  test.

£23k theft of iPads noted in Northern Education Trust accounts

Updated April 19 - According to this news story from June 2014 - £23,000 of iPads were stolen from one Northern Education Trust school (Grangefield Academy in Stockton).

Just noticed on Page 27 of the Norther Education Trust's accounts - £23k of its fixed assets losses on "Theft of iPads"... although I have no idea what the context is.

Redundancy and central services charges from MATs in the North

Two redundancy related stories for MATs in the north of England - and an increase in central service charges from a MAT in the North East.

Sam Freedman - forming MATs key to dealing with era of austerity

In a blog for Faculty of Education at Canterbury Christ Church University, Sam Freedman - former Michael Gove adviser and now Director of Research, Evaluation and Impact at Teach First - said the main tools for schools in an era of austerity will be staff cuts and consolidation (or federation) through forming multi-academy trusts (MATs).

Two outstanding York primaries form MAT

From the York Press: 'From today Manor CE Academy and Poppleton Ousebank Primary School will form a multi-academy trust... will be called the Hope Learning Trust... As part of the process, Poppleton Ousebank became an academy.'

Ipswich Academy MAT-to-MAT handover questioned

The Ipswich Star explores whether the East London-based MAT Paradigm Trust is a sensible choice for taking over Ipswich Academy when it is based 75 miles away and has not run secondary schools before. It will take over from Learning Schools Trust.

Aldridge Foundation criticises free school programme

A report by Public Finance says Rod Aldridge, founder of Capita and the Aldridge Foundation which runs 11 schools, believes the free school programme poses threats to the academy programme.

Independent/state school partnerships and working together

Nicky Morgan (in debate They Work For You): '...we announced that 18 new primary independent/state school partnerships had been awarded DFE funding, so this is already happening.'

MAT-to-MAT handover of Essex academy

The Essex Chronicle reports that a letter to parents shows Lilac Sky academies trust is in discussions with the regional schools commissioner, Tim Coulson, for a new trust to take over (Tabor Academy) at the end of the current term.

Spat reveals advance funding and unseen financial barriers to conversion

From the Leicester Mercury: The DfE replied to the newspaper's questions about an alleged spat between Lord Nash, Education Minister and Sir Peter Soulsby, Leicester City Mayor.

More thoughts on 'emergency' payments to academies

Schools Week has looked at some of the details surrounding emergency payments to academies: £12.6m 'emergency' handouts for 22 schools. The article lists the most recent large recipients of the funding - you can find a  full list of schools that received this deficit funding over the last three years here.

Emergency cash flow funding for academies increased in 2013/14

Figures provided by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) show that individual academies needed more than £4 million to plug unexpected holes in their cash flows in 2013/14. This was up from £1 million in 2012/13.

Demand for emergency financial help for academies is decreasing

Deficit funding is a source of emergency funding for academies. In most cases academies do not have to repay this cash. In some cases academies do have to repay the money but this can be done over a longer period than money provided as 'advances of funding' (more detail on this here).

£15k exclusion fine proposed by council - academy excluded 58 in 5 years

From the Nottingham Post: 'The city council is now seeking to re-introduce charging £14,900 after every second permanent exclusion from any school.' The paper reported that 'Since 2009, Djanogly City Academy has excluded 58 students, including 12 last year and eight so far this term.'

NASBM Stephen Morales: unacceptable disparity in SBM pay across the country

From Academies Week (now Schools Week): '...unacceptable disparity in SBM pay across the country.'

£11m Ingleby Manor contract announced

From The Construction Index:'BAM Construction has signed an £11m contract to build new premises for Ingleby Manor Free School and Sixth Form on Teesside.'

FOI on Regional School Commissioners performance indicators

From Academies/Schools Week: 'A freedom of information request to the Department for Education (DfE), however, shows that one of the eight key performance indicators (KPI) for RSCs relates to the number of academies in their region – including among schools not normally targeted for academisation.'

Academy food loophole

From the Daily Mail: 'Tough new rules for school meals came into force in England this week... But they do not currently apply to around 4,000 schools that became academies between September 2010 and last year.'