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The Yorkshire Post reports that Sandhill Multi-Academy Trust has withdrawn its sponsorship of  Brookfield Primary Academy 'following talks with the Department for Education and the regional schools commissioner (Jenny Bexon-Smith)'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