A MAT chosen to support struggling schools through the government鈥檚 RISE programme has had its bid to absorb three new academies knocked back amid concerns that its outcomes are not good enough. Hamwic Education Trust, which runs 37 academies across the south of England, had wanted to add three more to its books. But notes from a meeting show its plans to take on Cranborne Middle School in Dorset were declined. ‘Quality’ concerns Minutes state the board felt the 鈥渜uality鈥 of the trust鈥檚 key stage 2, 3 and 4 鈥渙utcomes [were] not strong enough鈥. Concerns were also raised over Hamwic鈥檚 nearest GCSE provision being its 鈥渢wo secondary schools in Southampton鈥. Regional director Lucy Livings subsequently decided the trust was 鈥渘ot a good match鈥 on both the counts of quality and geography鈥. Cranborne headteacher Richard Stevens said the decision was 鈥渆xtremely disappointing鈥, having worked 鈥渨ith the DfE regional director’s office to identify appropriate MATs for us to join鈥. His view that Hamwic 鈥渨as the best fit鈥 for the school was 鈥渟trengthened further after collaborating in a year-long partnership with [it], which proved very beneficial鈥. He added: 鈥淭he process of trying to join was frustrated by delays, moving of goalposts and often contradictory arguments based on geography and academic attainment. ‘Sustained improvement needed’ 鈥淲e feel that it is important for parents to have a choice of trusts when deciding to send their child to a local middle school in east Dorset.鈥 Meanwhile, Hamwic鈥檚 proposals to take on Mudeford Community Infants鈥 School and Somerford Primary, both in Christchurch, were deferred. Livings noted that 鈥渢here would need to be sustained improvements in [key stage 2] outcomes across the trust to consider these two schools again鈥. In a joint statement, Mudeford and Somerford said they 鈥渇elt strongly Hamwic aligned with our culture, vision and values鈥 after conducting 鈥渢horough and robust due diligence鈥. They will 鈥渨ork closely鈥 with the DfE 鈥渢o understand their decision and its implications in the coming weeks鈥. Refusals and deferrals rare Such decisions appear to be rare. Our analysis of advisory board minutes shows 597 (87 per cent) of trust growth projects have been approved by officials since September 2024. Only 32 (5 per cent) have been refused, with 38 (6 per cent) deferred. Twenty others (3 per cent) were referred to ministers to rule on. Hamwic CEO Robert Farmer admitted his trust鈥檚 outcomes this year were 鈥渘ot as strong as they should be鈥 but stated Cranborne鈥檚 key stage 2 results had improved in writing and maths since it started working with the school. He pointed to the academy chain鈥檚 work 鈥減roviding support on the Isle of Wight鈥 through RISE, the government鈥檚 school improvement scheme. Hamwic is also providing informal help to two other trusts 鈥渁t the request of the DfE鈥. The department said its “decision-making framework takes into account the circumstances of each individual school and the trust landscape of the local area”. This will “lead to decisions that look different across areas” as in Hamwic’s case.