Multi-Academy Trusts: Trends and Insights from 2023-24
Governmental Shifts and Sector Responses
The new Labour government, represented by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, has seemingly adopted a neutral stance on school structures, emphasising standards over structural changes, contrasting sharply with the previous government's aggressive push for academisation, which included plans to have all schools in a 'strong' trust by 2030—a plan that has since been shelved.
While it remains to be seen how Labour will affect MAT trends, if at all, a glut of LA presumption competitions in the run up to the election followed by a subsequent barren spell suggests the sector had anticipated change in the way new schools are formed. In a recent Q&A session with Phillipson, the new EdSec said the government wanted to focus on raising standards 'no matter the name above the door' and that MATs will soon be brought under Ofsted inspections (themselves another line on the t0-do list), suggesting MATs are here to stay, for the time being at least.
Trends in Academy Conversions
Since September, there has been a notable increase in primary school conversions to academies - specifically, 421 primary schools have been approved to become academies compared to just 31 secondary schools. This trend is partly due to concerns about the future of smaller, so-called "orphan" primary schools, which can be less attractive to MATs and therefore can run the risk of being left behind in their local area as MATs grow.
In terms of approvals, primary school conversions also have a higher success rate, with 94% of discussions leading to approval, compared to 84% for secondary schools. Current projections suggest that at the present rate of academisation, it will take until 2041 for all schools to be part of a MAT, and this is without factoring in any potential changes from Labour.
Regional Variations in MAT Trends
Regional Advisory Boards affect MAT trends and have played a crucial role in the approval process for academy conversions. The North West has emerged as the busiest advisory board, approving the most conversions (116) and discussing a total of 161 outcomes related to MAT growth. In contrast, London had the least activity with just 15 conversions approved.
The South West, despite already having the highest academisation rate (63%), closely follows the North West in terms of decision-making activity, with 136 approvals out of 138 discussions.
With Phillipson, in the previously mentioned Q&A session, mentioning the introduction of Regional School Improvement Teams, we may well see a shift towards looking to improve schools at ground level rather than a default to academisation or joining a MAT. Again, this early into a new government, and one that has not held power for over a decade, the changes may be slow to roll out as priorities form. However, what seems clear is that Labour's focus on improving standards across the board will begin locally, and with a greater focus on fostering relationships between schools/trusts and their local authorities, relationships that have become strained in recent years.
Mergers and Rebrokerages
The South West region leads in terms of approved mergers, accounting for 39% of the 33 mergers approved this academic year, and the region has become notable for its collaborative approach and mature MAT infrastructure.
Rebrokerages, or trust changes, have also been prevalent, with 72 academies rebrokered, 61% of which were primary schools. The South West again leads in this area, reflecting its large number of primary academies.
Conclusion
The growth and transformation of MATs continues to be influenced by regional dynamics and shifting governmental priorities. While the current government focuses on educational standards, regional advisory boards remain pivotal in guiding the expansion and consolidation of MATs, and the introduction of the aformentioned Regional School Improvement Teams will see an even tighter focus on raising standards at a local level to improve the outlook for the country as a whole.
While the MAT trends observed in the 2023-24 academic year suggest a complex and evolving landscape, with significant regional variations and a continued emphasis on strategic growth and resource management, utimately the future of MATs and the sector as a whole will be shaped in the coming months as Labour and Phillipson find their footing. A reversal of over a decade of free school policy seems highly unlikely and would almost certainly have been mentioned on the campaign trail, considering the upheaval it would cause to a critical sector. What does seem likely, then, is an attempt to consolidate and unite the sector, ensuring the new cabinet, schools, MATs, and local authorities all work in harmony to raise standards.
The information in this article has been used and ammended from an article in tes here.