The boss of a prominent academy chain fears the government’s new trust quality descriptors could become the “Ofsted handbook” of the MAT world.
Tom Campbell, the chief executive of E-ACT, said the sector could “miss a lot of innovation and diversity” if leaders stuck rigidly to the Department for Education’s definition of trust strength.
The guidance surfaced in last year’s schools white paper, with ministers basing it around five “pillars” to help potential expansions.
Their definitions were fleshed out in April, with MATs told they would be expected to support flexible working, operate collaboratively and “take action to promote equality and diversity”.
