The bosses of big trusts told academy commissioners that they would only take large schools and ignore small ones at the height of the Conservatives鈥 MAT drive, a regional director has said. But Andrew Warren, regional director for the West Midlands, said he decided to 鈥減ush back鈥 against obstinate CEOs to ensure that smaller schools were 鈥渓ooked after and viable鈥.聽 Andrew Warren The senior Department for Education official made the admission at the this week, as he revealed he has also lobbied diocese chiefs to share staff between village schools to keep them afloat.聽 鈥淪ome years ago, when the government strategy was for academy growth at pace, some of the [larger] trust leaders would say, 鈥業鈥檒l only take a big school鈥 I鈥檓 not going to take a small school鈥,鈥 Warren recalled. 鈥淎nd [my regional team] heard those messages for a couple of months before as a team we decided that we were absolutely going to push back.鈥 Warren noted there were about 鈥2,800 small schools鈥 in England, of which 2,000 are primaries and 1,000 are church-affiliated. They represent about a 鈥渟eventh鈥 of the estate. Discussions with dioceses His region鈥檚 area plan is 鈥渢o ensure all of our schools are looked after and viable for the future, whether they are big schools or small鈥. He added: 鈥淵ou cannot suddenly say, 鈥業鈥檓 going to ignore a seventh of the school estate, they are less important and can fend for themselves鈥. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been really challenging and鈥 said, 鈥榓ctually, there are financial impediments, there are some challenges, but we want you to take that on board鈥.鈥 Warren also stated that he has had 鈥渕any discussions鈥 with dioceses once vacancies have opened at the top of smaller primaries to say: 鈥淒oes [it] need a head and a deputy鈥 is there a way in which there is an executive head who can oversee two or three schools?鈥 His team is 鈥渜uite proactive鈥 with this, having held 鈥渟ome pretty lively meetings鈥 with governing bodies over the issue. During one, attended by 鈥渁 dozen chairs鈥, Warren was called 鈥渞ude names鈥 as he urged them to abandon the 鈥渟tatus quo鈥. 鈥淲hat is more important, keeping the structure or keeping the school?鈥 he continued. 鈥淚 still see quite a lot of resistance, often where it鈥檚 most vulnerable and I think: 鈥楩or goodness鈥 sake, the school cannot go on having three in reception鈥.鈥 Warren鈥檚 鈥渂ottom-line advice鈥 to small school leaders is that it is 鈥渕ore dangerous to be on your own, and I would caution against that for anybody鈥.
Kelloggs 54 24 November 2024 MATs are bad for most. Schools should be taken back into LA care and get rid of these trusts who do nothing for pupils or staff. They do not provide adequate resources but the bigwigs get huge executive pay packets. Too many layers of management to waste money that should be going on pupils’ resources. Some have dubious practices too.