Ofsted inspections of Multi Academy Trusts (MATs) could begin as soon as next year, after education secretary Bridget Phillipson tabled an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would enable them. At the last election the government had pledged in it’s manifesto to bring MATs into the inspection system. Currently Ofsted does carry out summary evaluations of trusts, which sees them inspect multiple schools within a trust, but this does not involve assessment of how well a MATs central teams and support functions work.
The new MAT inspections will focus on leadership, governance and impact – including how effectively trusts improve schools, provide high quality education, support staff, use resources and promote pupil wellbeing. The amendment will also introduce new powers of intervention to step in when trusts are not meeting acceptable standards including moving academies to stronger trusts, whilst also offering a route of recognition and celebration of those that are transforming outcomes for pupils.
Bridget Phillipson commented: ‘Every child no matter their background should be able to achieve and thrive, and strong schools working together through high quality trusts help make that possible. That collaboration must be matched by clear, fair accountability. Trust inspection will recognise excellence, support improvement and ensure no child is overlooked, especially those with the greatest needs.’
Reaction from the sector has generally been cautiously welcoming with Steve Rollett, deputy chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts commenting: ‘It is appropriate trusts are accountable – as indeed they already are. Any new checks must however have a clear purpose and not duplicate or conflict with school inspections or regulation by the Department for Education (DfE).’ Some academy trust leaders also questioned if Ofsted currently had sufficient expertise among it’s inspectors to carry out MAT inspections effectively. David Hatchett, CEO of Anthem, a trust with several schools in the Thames Valley, stressed the importance of ‘making sure inspectors have the right training so they have a secure understanding of the intricacies of how MATs work, especially around governance.’
Meanwhile Cathie Paine, CEO of the Reach2 Academy Trust which has over 60 schools including four in Reading, welcomed the move towards trust-level inspections. She said: ‘Trusts play a huge role in improving education and driving greater equity, so it makes sense to look at how they work as a whole. The key will be making sure this is done proportionately and in a way that reflects the different sizes and approaches across the system. If we get that balance right, it won’t just strengthen accountability – it will give a clearer picture of how trusts support schools, add value and, most importantly, how we can make things better for every child. It’s also a great chance for trusts to learn from each other and share what works, which can only make the system stronger.’
Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, noted that it was ‘understandable’ that the government was looking to introduce MAT inspection but pointed out that there would be ‘risks attached’. He said: ‘Foremost in the government’s mind must be the need to avoid adding any additional pressure or burdens onto individual schools that are already highly accountable in multiple ways. We are pleased the government has committed to working with the profession when designing a trust inspection framework. It’s important that starts with first principles and a clear, agreed understanding of what the purpose of MAT inspection is.’
The DfE has said it intends to draw up detailed plans in collaboration with Ofsted and trust leaders, with the inspections being piloted before being fully rolled out. The earliest inspections are therefore not expected to begin until the 2027/28 academic year.