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School autonomy group wants to become the voice for academies

An organisation that campaigns for school autonomy is seeking to transform itself into a trade association to lobby on behalf of the academy sector.

There are currently 2,700 academy trusts, ranging in size from one school to more than 60, but the group has raised concerns that the Department for Education often consults only a limited number of favoured organisations.

Fasna, the Freedom and Autonomy for Schools National Association, wants to become an organisation that can speak on behalf of the whole sector.

Leora Cruddas, the Chief Executive of Fasna, said that academies and academy trusts are diverse and as a sector lack a way of speaking to the government with authority.

She said: “I want a re-positioned, re-shaped Fasna to be that body that the ministers call in when they want to understand what the newly autonomous sector wants, how it feels, how it wants to influence and shape policy, and also let’s face it to advocate for that sector.

Read the full article in the Tes.

SCHOOLS NorthEast is hosting their annual SBM Conference on the 14th June at St James’ Park in Newcastle, and Leora Cruddas, Chief Executive of Fasna, is a key note speaker on the day. For more information and to book your place, click here.

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