Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the impact on the commercial curriculum resources market of converting Oak National Academy to an arms-length body producing state-financed and endorsed curriculum materials.

As an integral part of the process to set up Oak National Academy as an arm’s length body, with close regard to Cabinet Office guidance, the Department produced a business case which included an assessment of potential market impact. This business case was published in early November. Monitoring market impact will be a priority throughout Oak National Academy’s lifetime and will be factored into the body’s ongoing evaluation and two year review.

As an arm’s length body, Oak will receive Government funding through the Department. Oak will ensure alignment with the National Curriculum and have due regard to the Department’s non statutory curriculum guidance but is operationally independent of Government.