Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support poorly performing multi-academy trusts.

Where academies are underperforming we act swiftly to address failure and secure improvement. Regional School Commissioners (RSCs) and their teams work with trusts on a case by case basic to determine the best course of action, ensuring education for pupils in the first priority.

RSCs can commission a range of support to help MATs to improve – including from local system leaders such as Teaching Schools and National Leaders of Education.

If a trust is not making rapid enough improvements at a school the RSC may take formal action including issuing formal notices. Ultimately, if the trust cannot make sufficient and rapid enough improvement the school may be transferred to a new trust with the capacity and capability to raise standards for pupils.