Multi-school Educational Trusts

[dzara]

Hi Mumsnetters,

What's the role of the trust which governs a group of schools and is the trust's reputation (as in performance of other schools it governs) a reliable indicator of the likely performance of a new school opened by the same trust?

Just trying to understand how the system works, because new schools don't have any performance data or Ofsted reports on the government's website.

Thanks :)

All new schools have a pre-opening inspection. I would look at information on the schools in the trust and the headteacher, however, do remember that some trusts do better with new schools than delivering improvements in a school that is already up and running, for example if they have sponsored a previously underperforming school.

@dzara The trust governs the school, so yes, reputation matters, but LadyLapsang's caveat in the pp is valid.

New schools with strong leadership can attract very enthusiastic staff who are excited to build a school from scratch. The first cohorts can benefit from a relatively high ratio of senior subject leaders to students. My DC went to one a few years ago and loved it.

They dont really have a pre-inspection as such
It is a tick box exercise and the DfE can override it and register anyway

The pre-inspection involves a checklist for things like staffing levels and safeguarding and statutory policies, and much more, so it is a very important "tick box exercise" that shouldn't be dismissed. Obviously there are no lessons to observe.

Hi all :)

Thanks for the informative replies.
So when a multi-school trust opens a new school, are they the ones responsible for making sure it is properly equipped and staffed or the government? Where do they get the funds from?

Thanks again.

@dzara the answer to the first question is 'yes' and the answer to the second question is 'from the Government'. The Government signs a funding agreement with them setting out their responsibilities. Funding agreements are published online so are easy to find.

The model agreements are here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/academy-and-free-school-funding-agreements

Each individual school has a supplementary funding agreement which is an addendum to the model agreement.

It depends on if it is a free school through a DfE competition or an LA initiated presumption free school through a local competition

Free Schools through DfE competition have DfE Checks in place to QA the curriculum, safeguarding, governance etc in pre and post opening.

It is a different process for LA presumption free schools.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-school-pre-opening-guide

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/663dfcab993111924d9d324a/Free_school_presumption_guidance.pdf

Usually trust wide policies curriculum etc