Academies

Academy trust merger decision due (despite CEO already running the other chain)

Delta boss Paul Tarn took over Coast and Vale Learning Trust as chief executive in April

Delta boss Paul Tarn took over Coast and Vale Learning Trust as chief executive in April

30 Nov 2024, 7:00

More from this author

Merger plans that would create England’s second-biggest multi-academy trust are due to be decided next month – by a board its chair sits on and with its chief executive already in charge of the other chain.

Delta Academies Trust boss Paul Tarn took over Coast and Vale Learning Trust as chief executive in April.

Paul Tarn
Paul Tarn

It followed an “in-principle agreement” between the two trusts to join forces.

The proposals – which will take Delta’s tally to 63 schools – will go before the Department for Education’s Yorkshire and Humber advisory board in two weeks.

But leaders have warned of the risks attached to such a move.

One trust chief executive, who asked not to be named, said: “The advisory board is in a very difficult position because they [the trusts] are so far down the line.

“If the board doesn’t think it’s the right match, what happens then?”

Steve Hodsman, Delta’s chair, is a co-opted member of the advisory board. He declined to comment.

Advisory board members are not decision-makers, but they “help inform” decisions made by regional directors.

DfE guidance states that the regional director’s “office maintains a register of all… conflicts of interest”.

Where one exists, the board member “will not receive relevant advisory papers” and have to remove themselves from discussions on the project”.

They “must not provide any advice” on the plans.

‘The east coast is not well served’

Schools Week revealed in March that Coast and Vale decided to merge after all nearby “capacity giver” schools had academised.

Its advertisement for a new boss stated it would be “an interim post”, with the new chief expected “to manage a merger … within the next two years”, Michael McCluskie, the trust’s director of education, said.

Tarn proposed stepping into the position and “if you like what you see, you take a decision at a later stage over whether you’d like to formally join us”, he said. Trustees came to an “in-principle agreement” to join Delta.

Speaking this week, Tarn said he had not been paid for his second post.

Coast and Vale has a service-level agreement with Delta worth about £50,000 for central services to cover “fuel and the odd overnight [stay]”.

“I didn’t want six schools – that wasn’t why I wrote to them. The east coast is not well served… I said we’ll create a trust that has the capacity to support others on the coast”.

Latest government figures show Delta is currently the third largest MAT in England.

If it merges with Coast and Vale, it will overtake Reach2, which runs 62 schools.

United Learning Trust, with 90 academies, is the country’s largest.

Latest education roles from

IT Technician

IT Technician

Harris Academy Morden

Teacher of Geography

Teacher of Geography

Harris Academy Orpington

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Exams Assistant

Exams Assistant

Richmond and Hillcroft Adult & Community College

Lecturer Electrical Installation

Lecturer Electrical Installation

Solihull College and University Centre

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

Inspiring Leadership Conference 2025: Invaluable Insights, Professional Learning Opportunities & A Supportive Community

This June, the Inspiring Leadership Conference enters its eleventh year and to mark the occasion the conference not only...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Catch Up® Literacy and Catch Up® Numeracy are evidence-based interventions which are highly adaptable to meet the specific needs of SEND / ALN learners

Catch Up® is a not-for-profit charity working to address literacy and numeracy difficulties that contribute to underachievement. They offer...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

It’s Education’s Time to Shine: Celebrate your Education Community in 2025!

The deadline is approaching to nominate a colleague, team, whole school or college for the 2025 Pearson National Teaching...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Navigating NPQ Funding Cuts: An Apprenticeship Success Story

Last year’s NPQ funding cuts meant that half of England’s teachers faced costs of up to £4,000 to complete...

SWAdvertorial

More from this theme

Academies

Revealed: The academy CEO pay premium

More than 60 CEOs earned over £200k, biggest-ever Schools Week executive pay investigation reveals

Jack Dyson
Academies

Academy sector annual report: 7 key findings

Auditors sound warning over pension liabilities, while one trust paid out an exit package of at least £200k

Jack Dyson
Academies

Academy trust walks away from merger with struggling chain

45-school MAT reveals the funding needed for a long-planned merger 'was not available', prompting fears trusts will become 'more...

Jack Dyson
Academies

Academy broke rules over head’s Botox and aromatherapy courses

Trust issued warning notice after probe found payments for 'luxury' hotel stays and 'excessive spending' on gifts, documents state

Jack Dyson

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *