ATL comment on Ofsted’s inspections of multi-academy trusts

“Once again we see evidence confirming academy conversion is not the magic bullet to improving education standards the Government makes it out to be. Although overwhelming evidence clearly shows academies are no better at raising standards than any other school, the Government remains hell-bent on continuing to force all schools to become an academy.

“ATL continues to question how effective the Department for Education and its Regional School Commissioners are in ensuring that funding for education is not wasted on expensive consultants and executives.

“Instead of allowing more tax-payers’ money to be wasted, the Government should be putting more effort and the precious little funding it has into the things that really do raise school standards - effective continuing professional development for teachers, and eliminating child poverty to lessen the barriers to learning.”