A trust has agreed to give up two of its schools as it becomes the first in England to fall foul of the government鈥檚 鈥渃oasting鈥 crackdown. Bosses from Eastern MAT have been issued with termination warning notices for and They appear to be the first published warnings to an academy trust under new government powers to force 鈥渃oasting鈥 schools with two consecutive less-than-good inspections into new chains. Intervention based on Ofsted ‘track record’ Department for Education officials have threatened to transfer the schools to an alternative chain amid concerns for Eastern’s 鈥渃apacity to deliver rapid and sustained improvements鈥 at the sites, in the letters published today. It follows Ofsted鈥檚 decision to rate the academies 鈥渞equires improvement鈥 last year, after inspectors witnessed 鈥渓ow-level disruption in some classes鈥 at West Row and lessons that failed to 鈥渂uild on what pupils already learned鈥 at Queensway. The missives penned by east of England regional director Jonathan Duff stated worries over the MAT鈥檚 ability to turn around the schools stemmed from its 鈥渢rack record in inspections since January 2022鈥. 鈥淭he trust is currently engaging with the department to transfer the academy to a strong trust,鈥 he said in both letters. 鈥淎lthough you have agreed to work with the department on a transfer, I intended to issue a termination warning notice to reflect the academy remains subject to this intervention power, and the trust remains accountable for the pupils until the transfer takes place.鈥 Duff said he will consider whether to terminate the schools鈥 funding agreements and transfer them to alternative trusts if Eastern does not 鈥渋mplement the actions set out鈥 in its own development plan. Trust oversaw just one RI rating The new intervention powers, introduced in September, came despite warnings from Ofsted they could encourage 鈥渜uick fixes to avoid a second RI鈥. Sector leaders were also concerned that inspection grades prior to a school either converting to an academy or joining a new trust also count. The visits to Queensway and West Row carried out by Ofsted were the first since the schools were taken on by Eastern six years ago. Both primaries were rated 鈥榬equires improvement鈥 prior to joining the trust. Normally, 鈥榬equires improvement鈥 schools are reinspected within 30 months, but new academies get an Ofsted fresh start. When reporting on Queensway last April, inspectors noted 鈥渓eaders have developed a shared vision for school improvement鈥, having established which areas needed 鈥渇urther work鈥. But at West Row, inspectors stated 鈥渢rustees have previously been too slow to act to address weaknesses鈥, despite noting staff were encouraged by the appointment of a new principal. Latest accounts show Eastern has 14 academies educating almost 4,900 children in all. In the documents, leaders conceded ratings of its seven primary academies had been 鈥渕ixed鈥 last year, with the Queensway and West Row outcomes 鈥渆xpected鈥. 鈥淪ignificant capital programmes鈥 were planned for the schools. The expected departures of Queensway and West Row from Eastern MAT will take the number to have left the chain in the last two years to three. King Edward VII Secondary Academy in Norfolk was taken over by the Inspiration Trust after being rated 鈥榬equires improvement鈥 twice and 鈥榠nadequate鈥 once between 2017 and 2021. ‘Schools adversely impacted by Covid and recruitment’ When asked about the DfE鈥檚 decision to issue the termination warning notices, Eastern MAT CEO Paul Shanks insisted he is working 鈥渢o ensure the very best outcomes for鈥 both schools. He told Schools Week both academies 鈥渞emain on a positive trajectory to good at their next inspection鈥 despite being 鈥渁dversely impacted鈥 by Covid and recruitment challenges. 鈥淭he trust has been working closely with the regional director鈥檚 office and has chosen to voluntarily work towards transferring Queensway Academy to a new trust by May 1,鈥 Shanks continued. 鈥淲e are confident of the sustained improvement in the trust鈥檚 academies with the successful recent inspection at Nelson Academy highlighting the effective support leaders receive. Raleigh Infant Academy also achieved a good Ofsted outcome, having joined the trust as inadequate.鈥 Figures obtained by the National Education Union under the freedom of information act in February show 218 schools were informed they are 鈥渃oasting鈥. First reported by the Education Uncovered website, the FOI shows just 17 face further intervention. Twelve of those were academies, issued with formal warning notices, while five council schools were issued with academy orders. The government said 鈥渃oasting鈥 schools that avoid intervention will 鈥渃ontinue to be monitored鈥.