National Audit Office report shows difficulties matching schools to sponsors
A National Audit Office report Converting maintained schools to academies has pointed out considerable regional variation in the availability of academy sponsors located near underperforming schools.
The key finding of the report are:
- The Department has matched some academies with sponsors some distance from the school. At January 2018, 242 sponsored academies were more than 50 miles from their sponsor.
- There is considerable regional variation in the availability of potential sponsors located close to underperforming maintained schools that may convert to academies in future. For example, there are relatively few sponsors near each underperforming primary school in the north of England.
- It can be difficult for the Department to find sponsors for certain types of school. Issues faced by the most challenged schools, including falling pupil numbers, leading to a drop in funding, and difficulties in recruiting or retaining teachers, may make them less attractive to sponsors. Small primary schools can face particular challenges. Low pupil numbers may threaten their financial viability and the geographical isolation of rural schools can make it difficult for a sponsor to provide support.
- There appears to be a shortage of sponsors and multi-academy trusts with the capacity to support new academies. In August 2016, the Department estimated that, by 2020, 2,700 more schools might need a sponsor. At January 2018, it had approved only 1,101 sponsors, including nearly two-thirds of existing multi-academy trusts.
- Since 2012-13, the Department has provided grants aimed at boosting sponsor capacity, but there is no evidence that it has evaluated the impact of this funding.
The full report is available online.