Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many academy schools are in receipt of a termination notice; how long each academy has been waiting to be re-brokered; how many academies have agreed to voluntary re-brokering; and how long each academy with that status has been waiting for a new sponsor.

As at 20 July 2018, there are three academy trusts that are in receipt of a termination notice. The Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC), on behalf of the Secretary of State, can terminate a trust’s funding agreement under certain exceptional circumstances. This is a power rather than a duty, meaning the RSC may decide to implement other measures to improve the school rather than terminate the funding agreement to bring about a change of trust.

Information on the length of time before the decision to re-broker and a re-brokerage, including how long each academy has waited for a new sponsor and the reason behind each re-brokerage, can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Standards are rising in our schools, with almost 516,000 children studying in good or outstanding sponsored academies that were typically previously underperforming schools.

The number of academies that fail to meet the required standards represents a tiny fraction of the academies sector but we always act quickly to tackle underperformance, taking action to support head teachers and build the capability of trusts to drive further improvements in our schools.

Our priority is to drive improvements in underperforming schools, and we will only consider terminating a funding agreement or transferring an academy to a new trust where this is in the best interests of the pupils. The majority of new trusts taking on an academy from another need no additional financial support and are voluntary transfers, as the trusts recognise the benefits of collaboration with a larger trust. Transferring land and other contracts to a new trust can take time and trusts prefer to align the transfer with the start of term or the new academic year.