A surge in termination warning notices has led academy leaders to question whether the policy is still appropriate as schools “live with the long tail of Covid”.
Department for Education figures show regional directors have sent 157 warning letters (TWNs) – which tell trusts they face losing an academy – since the start of last year.
The number issued in 2022 (89) is a 493 per cent rise on the 12 months before and is more than at any point since 2016.
The introduction of “coasting” powers, intervention in schools with successive ‘requires improvement’ ratings, and the return of inspections after the pandemic are likely key factors.
