Two reviews are on the way: one of academy regulation, and another of their senior leaders excessive pay. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Converter academies are schools that have been deemed successful enough to convert to academies in order to benefit from increased autonomy. A multi-academy trust is more likely to be effective if it is focused in one area of the country. A fit and proper Health and Safety audit will cover things such as site security, electrical and physical safety, identify trip and slip hazards, water management, work equipment, fire precautions, asbestos management and vehicle facilitation. The new education secretary faces an uphill struggle to revive the multi-academy trust agenda, with new figures suggesting efforts to nudge schools into converting are failing to cut through. 50% discount for additional delegate attendance to conferences*. Its vision, its values, its ethos, its curriculum model. Find out whether this group is a good match for your school in terms for everything it stands for. Another 24 per cent said they had actively decided against it. And at that time, the funding you got as a converter was quite good so it seemed to be the pragmatic decision to make. There were issues around pay and salaries, for example. This funded research draws on 30 interviews with school leaders and trustees from six MATs and 10 interviews with national leaders of governance to examine why MATs expand in size and geographical range. The research also revealed challenges relating to power and identity of the boards involved in decision-making processes, and supports further research findings in highlighting the importance and difficulties of multiple organisations adapting to function as a single organisation (Baxter, 2019). Recent ministerial warnings about single-academy trust (SAT) leaders sitting in splendid isolation had really wound them up, Marshall said. All rights reserved. The key word here is sustainable Immediate MAT growth can be relatively straightforward, however, if not thoroughly planned with proper due diligence, it will be short lived, and may even have a detrimental and potentially diminishing impact on the trust. The Sutton Trusts 2016 chain effects study looked specifically at the impact of joining a Mat on disadvantaged pupils in sponsored academies, and found that doing so was often not beneficial for these pupils. Mr Williamson also said that guidance for multi-academy trusts will be revised this year. There has been a little bit of extra funding because we applied for a grant to set up the MAT, but that doesnt come anywhere near touching the staffing costs. A Public Accounts Committeereport this summer said that local authorities ability to fulfil their statutory responsibilities, including their duty to provide school places, was undermined in areas where a high proportion of schools have become academies. When the Education Policy Institute (EPI) controversially compared Mats with local authority maintained schools it found a mixed picture. Charity Number: 1150237 Unlike traditional state schools, academies can set their own term times and do not have to follow the national curriculum as long as they offer a balanced and broadly based range of subjects including English, mathematics and science. Her latest book is Trust, Accountability and Capacity in Education System Reform (Routledge, 2020). Meanwhile, the National Foundation for Educational Researchs recent study of academies found no short-term benefits in the performance of primary school pupils. The same old messages wont work.. Whereas some of the chains that are doing really badly dont seem to have any particular policies or structures theyre just drifting along., Ultimately, the incentive for joining a Mat is key, says Chapman. We were initially reluctant and it did take a while for us to consult and then convert there was quite a lot of resistance. The last four years has seen significant growth to reach these figures, with MATs emerging, merging and growing. 19 Oct 2018 Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images The Labour Party's vow to scrap the UK's current academy system has reignited debate about the controversial schools. The most extensive investigation into federations, carried out in 2011 by Christoper Chapman. The education secretary has made a series of announcements today aimed at getting more schools to move into MATs. Proponents argue that academies drive up educational standards in disadvantaged areas by allowing external investment above the means of cash-strapped local authorities, giving head teachers larger budgets and more opportunities. We are halfway through the process, so were in the thick of it. So if your school is considering becoming an academy what would it mean for you, your colleagues and your pupils? Use these key questions to help make your decision, High-performing multi-academy trusts require strong leadership and a varied skillset among staff. Potential for unequal distribution of resources: Some have raised concerns that larger, more successful academies within a MAT may receive a disproportionate share of resources and attention, potentially leaving smaller or struggling academies at a disadvantage. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. The Tory conviction that academies drive improvement is not supported by evidence and ministers know it. 'Joining a multi-academy trust is like marriage without divorce' Both TOD and POD accounts are quick and dirty ways of avoiding probate, which can be slow, expensive, public and . An investigation into multi-academy trusts: how their central vision and approaches influence day-to-day practice in schools, and to what extent they are having a positive or otherwise impact. However, Hutchings offers a warning. Multi-academy trusts: benefits, challenges and functions Just 42 per cent planned expansion. Sam Henson, the associations policy and information director, said the findings were the surveys biggest surprise. Up-to-date articles giving you information on best practice and policy changes. Providing clear guidance for trusts will support our vision for strong families of schools led by strong and effective governance, and this year the Academies Financial Handbook will be updated to bring greater clarity to our guidance.. Well send you a link to a feedback form. Health and Safety But forced conversion remains controversial, with ongoing campaigns in places such as Peacehaven, East Sussex. Times Education Supplement. . 2020). She tweets @drjacqueBaxter and her profile can be found at http://www.open.ac.uk/people/jab899. Last time this was tried, in 2016, ministers were. School leadership teams and governors must be convinced that they are joining the right multi-academy trust. Whats your scheme of delegation? By identifying these priorities, associated costs can be planned, allowing for resources to be allocated elsewhere initially. He added: I see no reason why every local authority-maintained school in the country shouldnt consider taking up this opportunity as soon as possible, to put them in the best position to decide whether joining a specific trust is right for them.. Increased collaboration: Multi-Academy Trusts can facilitate greater collaboration and sharing of resources between academies, helping to improve education outcomes. It was a combination of local democrats, people who were interested about the colleges community identity, and some politicos who were anti-academy as it was perceived as a flagship Tory policy. As a BERA member you will receive access to the BERA Journals and the latest digital issue of Research Intelligence, be able to join communities and receive member discounts when booking events. Mr Williamson told the conference that more details on how this would be achieved will be announced in due course. But this is a much better arrangement for the struggling school than being swallowed up by a chain where they come in and everybody has to wear a purple uniform and have exactly the same policies and they top-slice 10% of your budget to pay for a chief operating officer (CEO). You have accepted additional cookies. Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail. The beginning of March this year saw the Government announce that by 2025 they want to see far more schools residing in "strong families", therefore effectively supporting the accelerated growth of Multi Academy Trusts (MATs). And while freedom from the national curriculum can be seen as a plus, state-funded religious academies, for example, could choose to teach creationism over biology, or could restrict admissions to certain types of pupil. Shadoweducation secretary Angela Rayner told the Labourconference last month that academies and free schools neither improve standards nor empower staff or parents . Visit our corporate site www.futureplc.com Future Publishing Limited, Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. When I arrived at the school in 2006, it was in the social care directorate rather than education, so the interaction with the local authority (LA) was negligible. Plan priorities across each term, ensuring key tasks are completed. A Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) is a type of educational organization in the United Kingdom where a group of academies work together under a single legal entity. Better accountability: MATs are held accountable to the Department of Education, and are required to report on their performance and demonstrate that they are delivering high-quality education. Organized Sports for Children, Preadolescents, and Adolescents We decided that our staff are our greatest resource and we wanted to invest in that beyond the recommendations that came from the LA. Read in 9 minutes Richard Page examines the factors you should consider for MAT growth. 88 East Broad Street, Fifth Floor, Columbus, Ohio 432153506 Phone: 6144664514 or 8002820370 Fax: 6144664490 www.ohioauditor.gov The process is complex and intensive because it is so important. The DfE is putting24 million into its Trust Capacity Fund to help school trusts to take on more academies in 2021-22, Mr Williamson said: We especially want to support strong trusts, and strong schools forming trusts, so that they are better able to take on underperforming schools in areas of high need.. They went on to pledge 17m to the 2021 Trust Capacity Fund. The research suggests its a complex situation, with studies reporting varying success in raising student attainment. Multi-Academy Trusts - Do your due diligence when growing your MAT Webinar: Multi-academy trust myth-busting - what are the advantages and Ask these questions first. Theres been a lot of if it aint broke, dont fix it talk about the academies programme, but for us it was about taking the opportunity to put the future of our academy in our hands. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. To access this webinar and all the policies and guidance to support your leadership team: A membership with Optimus Education gives your organisation: *Includes one free place at up to 10 conferences, with 50% off any further delegate places. It marks a slight increase on last years 53 per cent. He added: I am committed to see a system that brings the greatest benefits to the greatest numbers and to do this we need a clear regulatory framework that can support strong trusts. Find out as much as you can about the trust that youre considering joining. Mr Williamson said that schools could try before they buy through a new process in which they form temporary partnerships with multi-academy trusts in order to see the benefits. Increased autonomy: MATs offer greater autonomy to academies within the trust, allowing them to have more control over their budgets, curriculums, and other aspects of their . Because of increased participation, and younger entry age, in organized sports, appropriate practice, game schedules, and content become more important, taking into account athlete developmental stage and skills. (2018, August 1). Well-performing chains will give you a list of policies and structures, says Hutchings. 2 Whitechapel Road MATs have the potential to improve education outcomes and financial management, but they may also lead to loss of local control and reduced transparency, and must be managed effectively to ensure that resources and attention are distributed fairly among academies within the trust. London WC1H 0EH, 020 7612 6987 Multi-academy trusts: building a legacy. The idea is that, in an age when many schools have broken away from local authority control, this will enable them to team up and support one another. Creating collaborative advantage. You really need to know and understand the process, and if you dont yet, find a way to make damn well sure that you do. schools rated as requiresimprovement by Ofsted in three consecutive inspections to be turned into academies. The survey suggests MATs are keen to grow, though, with 57 per cent of multi-academy trustees and local governing body members saying their trusts planned to expand. Webinar: Multi-academy trust myth-busting - what are the advantages and disadvantages? 3. Therefore, it is recommended each party perform their own due diligence. Collaborations have for some time now been felt across many public services, made popular by initiatives from New Public Management approaches and market ideologies that suggest that collaboration enhances organisational performance, despite a range of evidence which suggests that this is not always the case (Huxham, 1996). This was the case for both maintained schools and academies. We were already supporting another school quite significantly and, to an extent, we were forced to form a multi-academy trust (MAT) because that school was close to being closed or taken over by others. Due diligence: Department for Education What is an academy and what are the benefits? Sponsored academies have donors such as businesses, faith communities, universities or voluntary groups, who have majority control of the academy trust. The other school was struggling, and the DfE needed a solution. Judging by recent announcements this growth has not been swift enough and possibly failed to meet expectations. And what is it that makes them fail? She is based in the Department of Public Leadership and Social Enterprise at the Open University Business School. To achieve full impartiality, seek an independent, experienced body. The Week is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. They should encompass accurate pupil projections and associated staffing structures to accommodate the pupil roll. This research report presents the results of a survey designed to understand the experiences and perceptions of schools about multi-academy trusts (MATs). Baxter, J. So we have created a structure where people can see opportunities for advancement and they feel that the salary theyre getting is commensurate with the job they do. Academies were introduced by Tony Blairs Labour government through the Learning and Skills Act 2000, in a bid to boost struggling schools in deprived inner-city areas. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. Research by the Education Policy Institutelast year concluded that turning schools into academies doesnt automatically improve standards, with primary and secondary schools in academy groups among the worst performing in the country. School governors vs academy trustees: what's the difference? Our research explored these issues by looking at what drives MATs to expand as reflected within the strategic discourses of trustees. Multi-academy trusts in England: Are they really accountable? If not properly managed and regularly reviewed, IT networks can become quickly outdated and vulnerable to the ever-growing threat of cyber-attacks. The report questioned the speed at which MATs had expanded and raised concerns about their expansion over too large geographical regions and their capacity to remain in touch with their communities. There are 37 Labour and Co-operative MPs - but when it comes to schools policy, the Labour and Co-operative parts of their title seem to be pulling in completely different directions, the news site adds. As a result of the governments quixotic zeal to embrace the ideal of education as a marketplace, the lack of collaboration between MATs which emerged during this study, is having a detrimental effect on interMAT learning. Pros and Cons of Transitional Kindergarten, Pros and Cons of Transferring High Schools, Pros and Cons of Parent Teacher Association, Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Customer Service, Pros and Cons of Teaching Mental Health in Schools, Pros and Cons of Online Classes VS Traditional Classes, Pros and Cons of Targeting Uninformed Consumers, Pros and Cons of Taking Valtrex Daily Reddit, Pros and Cons of New Education Policy 2020, Pros and Cons of Needle Exchange Programs, Pros and Cons of Naming a Trust As IRA Beneficiary, Pros and Cons of Starting Solids at 4 Months, Pros and Cons of Motivational Interviewing, Pros and Cons of Stanford Binet Intelligence Test, Pros and Cons of Metformin for Prediabetes, Pros and Cons of Metal Detectors in Schools, Pros and Cons of Mental Health Sreening in Schools, Pros and Cons of Medicare Advantage Plans VS Original Medicare, Pros and Cons of Medicare Advantage Plans, Pros and Cons of Medical Billing and Coding, Pros and Cons of Mandatory Military Service, Pros and Cons of Social Security Leveling, Pros and Cons of Social Media For Students, Pros and Cons of Social Emotional Learning, Pros and Cons of Smartphones For Students, Pros and Cons of Zoos National Geographic, Pros and Cons of Self Contained Classrooms, Pros and Cons of Roper Logan and Tierney Model, Pros and Cons of Indeterminate Sentencing, Pros and Cons of Leaffilter Gutter Guards, Pros and Cons of Inclusion in The Classroom, Pros and Cons of Laissez Faire Leadership, Pros and Cons of Hosting a Foreign Exchange Student, Pros and Cons of International Baccalaureate Program, Pros and Cons of Homeschooling vs Public Schooling, Pros and Cons of Homemade Laundry Detergent, Pros and Cons of Heat Treatment For Termites, Pros and Cons of Crawl Space Encapsulation, Pros and Cons of Heat Treatment For Bed Bugs, Pros and Cons of Core Knowledge Curriculum, Pros and Cons of Converting Chapter 13 To Chapter 7, Pros and Cons of Contact Paper on Countertops, Pros and Cons of Fundations Reading Program, Pros and Cons of Charter and Magnet Schools, Pros and Cons of Charitable Remainder Trust, Pros and Cons of Cameras in the Courtroom, Pros and Cons of Buying A House VS Renting, Pros and Cons of Built in Soap Dispensers, Pros and Cons of Federal Government In Education, Pros and Cons of Blue Devil Rear Main Sealer, Pros and Cons of Embryonic Stem Cells GCSE, Pros and Cons of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Pros and Cons of Early Childhood Education, Pros and Cons of E Learning Group Discussion, Pros and Cons of Art Education in Schools, Pros and Cons of American Public University, Pros and Cons of Accelerated Reader Program, Pros and Cons of Abstinence Only Education. There are many elements to a MAT growth due diligence process, which will be explored later in this article. 2. They need to identify the task ahead and ask themselves if they have the resources and expertise to assign to this project. She has been editor in chief of the Sage Journal Management in Education (MiE) for four years. In addition, the number of re-brokerings has increased dramatically increasing by 30% in 201718 compared to the preceding two years, at a cost of around 17 million per year to the taxpayer (George, 2018). Believe it or not, I have heard of an academisation process being delayed by over a year owing to a land dispute with a local farmer regarding land at the entrance of the school site. The process is to review compatibility, not suitability. The advice boils down to: do your due diligence, says Cruddas. What's more, these school leaders sought to enter a permanent partnership, one in which they could . We also need to be able to address issues in the small number of cases where they arise. More struggling schools will be sponsored by MATs as inspections resume. 2. Where is the policy to retain the forgotten middle teachers? Revealed: The 20 most expensive academy transfers. Discover Society. London: Routledge. Survey shows lack of appetite among maintained schools and single-academy trusts. Reaction to the governments announcement in its education white paper that all schools in England must become academies is remarkably muted. Having refused to fund the pandemic package that his own expert appointee recommended, Boris Johnson wants Mr Zahawi to polish up the governments poor record. New modes of collaborative governance: Governing collaborations in a new school landscape, power, control and communication. A separate EPI report from 2017 found that "academies do not provide an automatic solution to school improvement" and that "there is significant variation in performance at both different types of academies and multi-academy trusts". They need to be fully committed with as few doubts as possible. You need professionals who see the benefit of working across schools, otherwise they retrench into their own school and the opportunities to practise knowledge and expertise across the Mat are lost., Focusing on quick fixes rather than long-term solutionsis a common cause of problems, Chapman continues. To be honest, we struggled in that regard because there was that lack of knowledge and understanding. 364 R eaction to the government's announcement in its education white paper that all schools in England must become academies is remarkably muted. Its that Donald Rumsfeld thing; you dont know what you dont know until you come across it. Almost two-thirds of NGA members at maintained schools have not even considered joining MATs. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you have the choice, investigate., Joining a multi-academy trust? Structural reform was not a panacea in itself, but she urged schools in MATs to promote the benefits. The number of schools joining multi-academy trusts (Mats) is growing. There are three other not so obvious areas of due diligence which warrant a mention. Loss of local control: Some people argue that MATs may lead to a loss of local control, as academies within the trust are no longer solely accountable to their local communities. You can get a series of false dawns. mediaofficer, 14 October 2021 - Academies, Schools We want every school in the country to be part of a family of schools in. Learning and Skills Events Consultancy and Training, c/o Runway East Local authorities will now be allowed to set up their own trusts, spinning off their education departments into third-sector bodies. MAT growth is not a one-way decision-making exercise. Management complexity: Managing a Multi-Academy Trust can be complex, as there are multiple schools and stakeholders to coordinate and account for. Our mission is to improve your health and well-being. Ministers have not dared mandate all schools convert since an ill-fated push in 2016. Compatibility rather than suitability: The thing to keep in mind through all of this, which is so often forgotten: Will the merger of MAT and school benefit childrens education? I would go further and suggest they consider appointing an independent body, thus ensuring complete impartiality. Some chains have been able to grow very quickly and while occasionally that might work if they already have good structures, its generally quite hard, says Hutchings. Chapman found a time lag of two to four years from when a federation was formed to it overtaking non-federated schools suggesting that improvements take time to emerge. You have rejected additional cookies. enquiries@bera.ac.uk, BERA 2023 London: Sage, Professor in Public Policy and Management at The Open University. Alex Smythe is headteacher of Newcroft primary school in Leicestershire, which is set to convert and become part of a multi-academy trust of six schools on 1 September. School governors vs academy trustees: what's the difference? Of course, there have been mitigating factors which have deflected focus and attention, such as Covid-19 and three lockdowns. You have to be steadfast about what you believe in. The Hickman Jeff Marshall, of academy advisers J&G Marshall, said he had seen little if any. George, M. (2018, July 19). Details The research looks at 2 main questions of multi-academy trusts: how their central vision and approaches influence day-to-day practice in schools to what extent they are having a. Learning strategy as learning, an iterative process that expands horizons and leads to growth. MAT leadership: resources, guidance and best practice . Leora Cruddas, the chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, said the poll was probably too early to assess whether the renewed MAT drive was working. As mentioned earlier, the due diligence process is designed to look at compatibility, not suitability. You can change your cookie settings at any time. For many, the attraction is the autonomy that academy status brings, says the Telegraph. And some of them are simply appalling.. They have also been promised powers to intervene if and when academies are not delivering what is needed by communities. Why your school should join a multi-academy trust | Tes Many areas of due diligence which the MAT would undertake on a school potentially joining them are obvious, such as financial records past and present, along with future financial projections. Work towards awards that support and accredit schools for outstanding non-curricular provision. We feel that we are doing the DfE a favour, to be honest. This has been the result of an initial drive in 2017 when the Education Committee reported MAT growth to be a key concern. Removing schools from the control of elected bodies is not a route to excellence. 10 Ways ToImprove Your School PE Facilities, 10 Ways to Freshen Up Your School Assemblies, Disability Discrimination in School Settings (And How to Avoid It), How To Persuade Parents To Pick Your School, The Attributes Every Great Headteacher Needs, Multi-Academy Trusts Do your due diligence when growing your MAT. Similarly, the test of a commitment to enable individual schools to jump from one Mat to another will be in the small print. All you need to know about everything that matters. The beginning of March this year saw the Government announce that by 2025 they want to see far more schools residing in strong families, therefore effectively supporting the accelerated growth of Multi Academy Trusts (MATs). Improved financial management: MATs can help to improve financial management across the group, as resources and expertise can be shared to ensure greater efficiency and effectiveness in budgeting and financial planning. 'Improvements take time to emerge' But some studies have been more positive about school partnerships. But most are pretty average and dont make much difference. If its externally mandated as an issue of performance, it needs to be managed very carefully. Study unsuccessful mergers to see where there has been potential oversight in the past. When academies are failing, dont pass the parcel bring back local authorities. But there is no getting away from the fact that the overriding aim of the white paper is to turn all schools into academies. Back in March, every school in England was going have to have to convert. Increased autonomy: MATs offer greater autonomy to academies within the trust, allowing them to have more control over their budgets, curriculums, and other aspects of their operations. All rights reserved. Some chains do appear to have transformed the chances of their disadvantaged pupils, says Merryn Hutchings, a professor at London Metropolitan University, who conducted the research. Yes, they could have looked elsewhere there are plenty of academy chains who could have stepped in, stripped everything back and sorted it out but this is one of our partner schools and this is a local solution. Your email address will not be published. Copyright 2023 Tes Global Ltd is registered in England (Company No 02017289) with its registered office at Building 3,
Why Do I Struggle To Write Essays,
Articles M
multi academy trust disadvantages
