Councils vs academies over who should sustain service grant cuts

Councils have said that academies should bear the brunt of a proposed 20% cut to the Education Services Grant. The Local Government Chronicle reported: 'The basic local authority ESG rate for 2014-15 is £113 per pupil in mainstream community schools. Academies receive an additional “transitional protection” of £27, meaning a £140 rate per pupil... London Councils (and Sigoma)...(urged government) to remove the protections “at the earliest opportunity” to equalise funding for all schools.'

Diocese of Carlisle launches MAT

From News and Star (Cumbria): 'The Diocese of Carlisle will launch its Good Shepherd multi-academy trust....Michael Mill, the diocese’s director of education, children and young people said: 'Since receiving approval to become an academy sponsor, a huge amount of work has been ongoing to enable us to reach this point. Detailed policy documents, legal frameworks and a draft scheme of delegation are in place for those who join our trust’s family of schools.'