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16 April 2026

Tag: academy trusts

Flagship academy re-named after sponsors despite slipping into special measures

An academy has been renamed in recognition of its millionaire sponsor, just months after it was put in special measures and is possibly facing rebrokerage. The Business Academy Bexley has changed its name to the Garrard academy to recognise the support of sponsor Sir David Garrard, a retired property tycoon and former Labour donor. Garrard […]

Wakefield trust walkout leaves special measures school in six-year limbo

A second trust given a slice of £5 million northern academy hub funding has walked away from a school in special measures – meaning it has now been in limbo waiting for a permanent sponsor for six years. The Wakefield City Academies Trust (WCAT) will no longer sponsor Hanson academy, in Bradford, after it finishes […]

Councils run crisis communications classes for schools as trusts up their PR focus

Councils are running classes for school managers on how to deal with the media in a crisis, while academy trusts are calling in consultants for up to £450 a day, a Schools Week investigation into the cost of public relations has revealed. The recent government investigation into the Perry Beeches academy trust (Former Perry superhead […]

Ofsted: Greenwood Academies Trust has ‘let down pupils’

One of England’s largest multi-academy trusts has been warned it has “let down pupils over a number of years” after a focused inspection of six of its schools by Ofsted found half required special measures. The Greenwood Academies Trust has been told to “urgently improve outcomes for pupils” after an investigation in November revealed failures […]

Plymouth CAST academy trust issued warning notice after leadership failings

An under-fire academy trust has been given a warning notice and told to urgently improve, just weeks after an Ofsted inspection found serious weaknesses among its schools. The government has told Plymouth CAST, which runs 36 academies in the south west of England, to “urgently address weaknesses in its education provision” or face intervention. The […]

First sixth form college and academy trust merger planned

The first merger between a sixth-form college and an academy trust is on the cards after the submission of plans for a “pioneering” partnership. Ninestiles academy trust, which runs seven academies across Birmingham and Solihull, hopes to bring The Sixth Form College Solihull into the trust from the start of the next academic year. If […]

OGAT runs course showing academies how to ‘restructure’ staff

A leading academy trust is running £300-per-head sessions to advise school leaders on how they can restructure staff to deliver a “fit-for purpose” curriculum in the face of crippling budget pressures. Outwood Grange academies trust (OGAT) will host the “curriculum access day”, which will include staff restructuring advice, in March next year for business managers, […]

Perry Beeches: second investigation reveals trust breached rules over Labour donation

An academy trust already under-fire over related party transactions broke the rules when it made a political donation and paid a company owned by a relative of a director for consultancy services, an Education Funding Agency investigation has revealed. A second inquiry into the Perry Beeches academy trust, which runs five schools in Birmingham, has […]