Guardian: not enough sponsors willing to take on tough schools

From the Guardian: looks briefly at figures showing less than expected numbers of poor performing schools converting to academies - speculates whether this is due to lack of sponsors willing to take on tough schools.

Bridging fund incentive for MAT to take on school with poor finances

In September the Bradford Telegraph reported 'Many of the academy chains who were approached to run a troubled Bradford school (Belle Vue Boys) were immediately put off when they saw its finances...' This week the paper reported: 'Bradford Council has been working on a proposal which would see a "bridging fund"...

Bucks Learning Trust finds it difficult to access academy

From the Bucks Herald reported Amanda Taylor-Hopkins, director of education at the Buckinghamshire Learning Trust said she was finding it ‘difficult to get in’ to the Aylesbury Vale Academy (requires improvement by Ofsted) asked why standards were so different between two schools she said: 'The answer about why they are so different at this point I can’t give an answer to because we have not at this point been into Aylesbury Vale Academy. We are trying to get an appointment there but as you know it is an academy and it’s more difficult to get into.'

Ex EFA man takes on monitoring role at Education Fellowship Trust

Education Fellowship Trust has employed Steve Artis: 'Mr Artis joins the trust with more than 25 years’ experience working within various disciplines of a public sector audit function. He spent the past three-and-a-half years working for the Education Funding Agency at the Department for Education where he undertook the lead role reviewing financial management and governance arrangements within academies...'

From the Northants Telegraph: http://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/top-stories/new-monitoring-officer-for-trust-behind-nine-county-schools-1-6404633

Three Barrow primaries aim to form MAT to 'avoid topslice'

From North West Evening Mail: 'Greengate Infant, Nursery and Pre-school, Victoria Junior School and Yarlside Nursery and Primary School in Barrow have registered their interest with the Department for Education with a view to changing their status.'

Heads' pay debated

From the Times: 'School governors need to think very carefully before approving substantial salaries for head teachers, Nicky Morgan told MPs yesterday...“some very big numbers out there”.

PISA results undermine profit motive in schools

From TES: 'the government (of Sweden) intends to bring in legislation by 2016 that would force private companies to reinvest all profits back into their schools.

MAT approved to sponsor failing school hit with 'requires improvement'

Two months after taking on a failing primary school The Growth in Learning Trust - which runs Hareclive and no other schools and had received a ‘good’ rating in its previous inspection in 2010 -was given 'requires improvement' grading by Ofsted - from the Bristol Post.

Silver Birch MAT investigated over office expenses

The head of a MAT running two primary schools in East London spent £26k on office furniture prompting whistleblowers to call in the EFA which carried out an investigation according to the Daily Mail (19 Oct) - DfE investigation report from April 2014 said: 'The investigation has not identified fraudulent action by the Trust but has identified concerns in relation to poor procurement practice...'

NAO report raises questions about consistency over financial notices to improve

The National Audit Office's look at oversight and intervention included some points about how the Department for Education compiles a list of academy trusts about which it has financial concerns and which could be issued with financial notices to improve.

Nicky Morgan ridiculed by Select Committee over inspection of academy chains

Update (Oct 27): from the BBC Co-operative Academies Trust says it would welcome inspection

Update: Graham Stuart vows to question Nicky Morgan again (Yorkshire Post - 20 Oct 2014)
Letter to Ed Select Committee from Sir Michael Wilshaw reiterating that Ofsted cannot inspect academy chains (Oct 17)

Education Minister Nicky Morgan was grilled by Graham Stuart, chair of the Education Select Committee, about the inspection of academy chains by Ofsted. The exchange took place during a hearing about extremism on 15 Oct - at this link - the crucial discussion was at 10.55. (She is due to appear again before the committee on 22 October 2014) - the Guardian reports the exchange here.

AET chooses PWC as partner in outsourcing non-teaching roles including SBMs

From the The Observer (20 Sept 2014): Academy Enterprise Trust (AET) 'wants to set up a limited liability partnership with PwC'... which AET admits is entirely new to academy trusts.'

Sector is being targeted by auditors

A piece in Wiltshire Business says that with 150 academy clients Bishop Fleming is the second largest accountancy firm in the sector.

Northern Academy Trust head becomes executive director

Bill Jordan,  North Shore Academy principal - part of the Northern Education Trust (NET) - is due to become executive director and take over at Grangefield Academy, also part of NET.

Questions for Education Select Committee to put to Harris Federation

Witnesses facing the Education Select Committee at 9.30 tomorrow morning (Wednesday 3 September) include Prospects Academies Trust and the Harris Federation - below are some questions for Harris Federation.