MAT used unapproved loans to cover slow EFA payments

Unauthorised loans with a value of £150,000 were taken out by Chapel Street Schools, a multi-academy trust (MAT) which runs six schools. Another loan of £85,000 was also borrowed around the time the initial loans were repaid.

Chapel Street will triple the number of schools it runs this year

In a Guardian round-up (mainly about Ofsted and prior warnings to academy chains) one piece mentions a 'budget deficit' at Benedict School in Mitcham Surrey which joined the Chapel Street Community Schools Trust in January.

Chapel St free school gets go ahead for temporary site in business park

From the Lancashire Telegraph: 'Park Hill Business Centre has been chosen as the short-term site for Burnley High School... New guidelines state that buildings chosen by the Department for Education for use as state-maintained schools can be used for one academic year'

Lancashire free school overcomes council opposition

From the Burnley Citizen: 'Burnley High School is now set to open in September after receiving the all clear to set up the facility.... The school, part of the the Chapel Street Schools Trust, has been told that the former Habergham High School has been secured as the permanent site for Burnley High School.'

Burnley free school funding agreed

From The Burnley Citizen:Russell Rook, chief executive of Chapel Street (Backers behind Burnley High School), said: “ 'We have received the news that many of us have been waiting for – the Secretary of State has agreed to enter into a Funding Agreement for Burnley High School.'

Council pulls plug on free school property deal before September opening

From This is Lancashire: Trustees of Burnley High School had hoped to use the old Habergham High School buildings, in Byron Street, from September... but Lancashire County Council (LCC) leader Jennifer Mein has blocked the move... the refusal of a long-term lease is set to spark a legal tug-of-war between Labour-led LCC and the Department for Education (DfE)...'

Burnley free school begins site suitability negotiations

From Lancashire Telegraph

'Talks on the suitability of the former Habergham High School, in Byron Street, (as the site for Burnley's first free school) are now expected to lead to weeks of discussions between the Chapel Street School’s Trust, the Department for Education and Lancashire County Council. It is expected to be several weeks before a decision is announced.'