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The Yorkshire Post reports that Sandhill Multi-Academy Trust has withdrawn its sponsorship of  Brookfield Primary Academy 'following talks with the Department for Education and the regional schools commissioner (Jenny Bexon-Smith)'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