Legal threats and governor revolts: Inside the mass academisation of Catholic schools The Catholic MAT drive boosts the DfE’s flagging academy agenda, and dioceses say schools are reaping rewards – but rapid growth and resistance spell danger
‘Discrimination’: Small trusts denied two-thirds of repairs cash One school has seen six bids to replace a dilapidated classroom rejected, sparking claims rural schools are at a disadvantage
Academy avoids rebrokering threat until third ‘inadequate’ rating The leeway given to Nuneaton Academy raised eyebrows, with other academies and maintained schools facing swifter intervention
‘It’s the right time’: Amanda Spielman defends inspecting Covid-hit schools The chief inspector came under fire from school leaders at an event who called routine Ofsted inspections mid-Covid “profoundly wrong”
Schools told to hike contributions to boost repairs grant bids Schools must double their contributions to score top marks in CIF bids
‘Not a race’ for all schools to join MATs, says Herrington Dominic Herrington’s comments come amid predictions all schools will convert by 2030, and warnings of resistance from maintained and standalone schools
ESFA probes trust forced to up top-slice after overspend Documents suggest the Oval trust ‘set a deficit budget, miscalculated income…and overspent’, while a new board came in after a row with the diocese
Council ditches ‘forced’ academisation plan as Zahawi softens stance Tory-led Swindon had proposed to convert all schools to academies by 2025 before a U-turn
Nominations open for RSC adviser elections The DfE wants more academy chiefs from under-represented backgrounds to run for election as advisers to regional schools commissioners