Taking the Next Step: Joining a multi-academy trust

1 GUIDANCE PAPER. Taking the next step : Joining a multi - academy trust Guidance at a glance This guidance is for senior leaders, trustees and governors of local-authority maintained schools and single academy trusts in England who want to join an existing multi - academy trust (MAT). It is designed to help school leaders, trustees and governors assess whether the MAT is the right home' for their school, to conduct effective due diligence and ensure stakeholders are consulted appropriately. Those still considering the best future for their school are advised to first read the linked paper Taking the next step : Considering forming or Joining a group of schools.

2 This paper is designed to help all those involved in school leadership and governance to better understand the current policy landscape, to consider their options and to make the best long-term decision for their school. Those who want to form a new MAT are advised to read our linked paper, Taking the next step : Forming a multi - academy trust . This paper will look in more detail at the following: Section 1 Overview Section 2 The importance of getting it right Section 3 First steps Section 4 Due diligence what is it and how do you do it? Section 5 Sources of information Section 6 Stakeholder engagement and consultation Section 7 Ratifying your decision and next steps Section 8 Additional help and further information 2 | Taking the next step : Joining a multi - academy trust 1 Overview At the time of writing, the education landscape had reached another landmark stage.

3 At the beginning of 2019, over 50% of children in state-funded schools in England were being taught in an academy . Announcing this development, the Secretary of State for Education urged more schools to consider the opportunities offered by becoming an academy . While there is no clear evidence to suggest that academisation in itself leads to better outcomes for children and young people, there is an increasing body of evidence that formal collaborations between schools, such as MATs, can bring substantial benefits. The linked paper Taking the next step : Considering forming or Joining a group of schools includes more on the benefits of collaboration, and also includes detailed information on: the policy context for schools in England different types of school, and different collaboration models how academy trusts are led and governed a step -by- step process to help schools decide whether to form or join a MAT or federation In certain circumstances, schools will be directed to join a particular MAT, with very little input into that decision.

4 Underperforming schools may be issued with an academy order by their Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC), requiring them to become an academy (if they are currently a maintained school) and join a MAT. Occasionally, a school in this situation may be given an element of choice in which MAT they join, but in many cases a particular MAT will be specified by the RSC. This paper is not primarily aimed at schools in that position (though they may still find it useful). It is aimed mainly at schools that are not under any compulsion to join a MAT, and have spent time considering the options open to them and decided that this is the route they wish to take.

5 They may have identified one MAT in particular they are keen to join, or are trying to choose between a number of different MATs. The guidance in this paper is intended to help ensure they choose to join a MAT which will help their school to thrive , both in the short term and in years to come. 2 The importance of getting it right There are no short cuts to deciding on the right MAT to join one that is compatible with your school and will enable it to thrive . Joining a MAT is a major cultural change and the importance of investing time in a comprehensive and detailed assessment of any MAT you are considering Joining , as well as learning from the experience of others, both good and bad, cannot be over-emphasised.

6 Neither is Joining a MAT a change which can easily be reversed. While it is not impossible for schools to move from one MAT to another, the process of doing so is complex, and only possible with the agreement of the RSC. It is essential, therefore, that any school considering Joining a MAT takes its time, asks the right questions, doesn't make assumptions, is honest about itself, and demands honesty in return. It is much better to tackle any difficult conversations early in the process, rather than finding later on that you've wasted time exploring a partnership that was never going to work or, worse, finding yourself part of an organisation that you wish you'd never joined.

7 The due diligence process outlined in Section 4 is necessarily detailed and will involve a significant time commitment. It therefore makes sense to narrow down the number of MATs you investigate in this way to no more than two or three. Asking yourselves the following questions might help with that process. 3 | Taking the next step : Joining a multi - academy trust What are your main reasons for wanting to join a MAT? It is important to consider some key questions about your own motivation before you go any further. What are the main drivers behind your decision to join a MAT? Are you looking for ways to improve your performance? Do you want to safeguard your school's long-term financial future?

8 Are you keen to improve your governance? Do you want to provide new opportunities for your staff? These are unlikely to be either/or' questions, but focusing on the reasons that are most important to you may help you pinpoint MATs that are likely to help you achieve these aims. It is important to remember, however, that the most important overriding reason for making this decision should always be that you believe it will help you to achieve the best possible outcomes for the children and young people in your school. Are you fully aware of, and comfortable with, the legal implications of Joining a MAT? A MAT is a single legal entity, responsible for all of its schools.

9 The process of Joining a MAT involves: 1 for a maintained school, converting to an academy within the MAT. 2 for an existing academy , transferring from its current academy trust into the MAT. The MAT trustees become fully responsible for the running of all the schools in the trust , although they may delegate certain functions and decision-making to school-level committees (often referred to as local governing bodies or academy committees). The MAT also becomes the employer of all staff across all the schools. This is a fundamental change for the converting school. It is essential that leaders, governors and/or trustees are fully aware of and comfortable with this before going any further.

10 How well do potential MATs align with your ethos and vision? In deciding to join a trust , it is crucial you are comfortable with its ethos and vision, and happy that this aligns with the ethos and vision of your school. Like schools, trusts usually publish their ethos and vision on their website, but these statements can be broad, hard to disagree with and lacking in detail about what the trust will look like in the longer term. Looking at policies for how the trust manages key areas, such as performance management, curriculum, teaching and learning and behavior, can give a more concrete view of how the trust 's ethos is lived. Other areas may include their attitude to stakeholders and local governance.