The boss of the Department for Education鈥檚 property arm will conduct an “independent” review of the Oak National Academy to check the online school “remains relevant” and is “performing efficiently”. Lara Newman, chief executive of LocatED, has been In practice, this will mean checking whether Oak 鈥渞emains relevant鈥, is 鈥減erforming effectively鈥 and that there is an 鈥渁ppropriate relationship鈥 between it and ministers that allows 鈥渄ay-to-day operational independence鈥. Lara Newman Set up during the pandemic by a group of volunteers, Oak was turned into an arms-length public body in September 2022 with 拢43 million in government funding. It later got another 拢2 million to expand its AI offer. At the time, the DfE committed to review the organisation within two years. Newman will be responsible for 鈥渆nsuring a proportionate, rigorous and fair review that offers recommendations to facilitate continuous improvement鈥. The review will look at issues including: Does Oak have a 鈥渃lear mandate and remain relevant鈥, with a 鈥渃lear rationale鈥 for why it should continue as an arms-length body? Is it 鈥渁ligned with the strategic priorities鈥 of the department and 鈥渨ider government objectives鈥? What are users鈥 experiences of Oak? Does it have an 鈥渆ffective and appropriate relationship鈥 with the department, including if the 鈥渂alance of control鈥 allows for 鈥渄ay-to-day operational independence鈥? How can the quango 鈥渋mprove the productivity of, or reduce spending on, staff鈥? The assessment will be 鈥渃ompleted by September 2024鈥. Ministers will 鈥渄etermine the final timing and manner of publication of the review鈥. Schools minister to steer review The terms of reference do not set out how Newman was appointed. But it states the schools minister will get initial findings by July and 鈥減rovide their view on the direction of the review鈥. When the full report is published, the minister can decide whether to accept or reject any recommendations made. Newman will be supported by civil servants from the department. The review team will be 鈥渆ncouraged to identify鈥 stakeholders to collect evidence from, however they will be 鈥渋dentified in consultation with Oak鈥 and its sponsorship team in the department. Since launching as a quango, Oak has been tasked with developing free curriculum packages, including 鈥渟tretching鈥 materials, and providing a national 鈥渃ontingency鈥 for remote education if required. LocatED is also a government quango set up in 2016 to secure sites for free schools. In recent years it has also been tasked with identifying surplus school land for sale.