Half of trusts ‘against central pooling’ of school budgets A small poll suggests MAT leaders value centralised funding but are wary of deterring potential new trust schools
Trust chiefs warn PM a cash squeeze threatens ‘viability’ of schools 350 academy leaders raised ‘grave concerns’ in a letter to ministers as the government plans ‘efficiencies’ in public spending
Devon council appoints academy chiefs to run education services Experts say academisation is increasingly hollowing out council expertise in education
DfE goes shy on ‘try before you buy’ academy deals The government has quietly slashed funding for trust partnerships, unveiled only last year to revive its multi-academy trust drive
Academy transfers hit six-year low despite DfE MAT drive Covid disruption has dented school transfers, but enthusiasm may also be limited among big and standalone trusts alike
Council MAT trial next year – but caps on number and size The DfE will ‘test the concept’ of local authority multi-academy trusts, inviting councils to join a small trial
Herrington: ‘We’ll miss targets if trusts act in their own interest’ Meeting literacy and numeracy targets will require academies’ and councils cooperating, says national schools commissioner
Academy reserves surge to £3.9 billion after Covid savings The average academy trust saw their reserves jump 29%, boosted by unlikely Covid windfalls
Best-paid trust CEOs’ wages rise fastest, but some rein in pay The highest-paid have seen bigger pay rises than the rest, with some academy trusts reining in pay even as a government crackdown stalls