London Academies Enterprise Trust

Last updated

London Academies Enterprise Trust (LAET) was a multi-academy trust (MAT) controlled by the Academies Enterprise Trust (AET) in England. It was dissolved in August 2021. [1]

Contents

History

Since the 1990s schools in London had been improving at a faster rate than schools in the rest of England, and this is called the "London Effect." [2]

In 2010 Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London decided that the Mayor’s office should be involved in school transformation by sponsoring Academies. He therefore formed a group called the Mayor’s Academies Limited (MAL) and decided to work in a partnership with the country’s largest academy chain, (AET), as joint co-sponsors in order to transform London schools. This partnership was formalised in the setting up on 1 April 2010 of a limited company (Company number 07211219) called London Academies Enterprise Trust (LAET) [3]

The Mayor's Academies programme was controversial. Even at the very time that the programme was announced in 2010, concerns were raised by London Assembly leader Len Duvall who said that it was “just a vanity project that sound good for a short while, but long term what's really going to be the impact?". [4] Concerns about the programme proved to be not without foundation, as (AET) went on to become embroiled in financial controversy when it was revealed that Ian Comfort (the CEO) and other directors' businesses were benefiting directly from AET contracts. [5] Then the DfE went on to ban (AET) from expanding and opening more academies, including it on its list of "restricted" Academy chains until it could improve the performance of the schools which it already had. [6] The Education Funding Agency went on to give (AET) a financial Warning Notice for poor financial practices. [7] OFSTED also went on to blast (AET) for low expectations and poor standards [8] The Mayor's Academies programme had originally been intended to have 10 Academies. [9] But following the problems which (AET) found itself with, and the difficulties in improving the LAET schools (which we shall see more on below), the LAET only ever grew to 4 Academies before the Mayor's Office began withdrawing from the programme.

The Mayor's withdrawal can be seen for example in 2015 when one of the 4 schools received criticism from OFSTED for its poor standards, a spokesman on behalf of the Mayor stated "The Mayor has not been involved in the governance of the schools since 2013, but we are in touch with the London Academies Education Trust to see what is being done to raise attainment at Kingsley." [10] Previous to this in July 2013 the Mayor's Academies Programme had transferred from the London Development Agency (LDA) to the GLA and the Mayor resigned as a corporate member of LAET. [11]

As of August 2014 the trust employed 299 teachers, compared to 328 at the same time in 2013. [12]

Confusion about the trust arose in 2017 when individual academies such as Kingsley Academy ceased describing itself as an LAET school, and began posting a welcome from the CEO of AET (Academies Enterprise Trust) which described it as an AET Academy. [13] Records at Company House nevertheless confirmed that LAET still existed as a separate Trust. [14]

Schools

The four schools within London Academies Enterprise Trust (LAET) are contained in the following table which notes their pass rate for the flagship measure of 5GCSE A-C (including English and Maths) until 2015. [15] From 2016 the measure of school performance changed to "progress 8" [16]

Academy NameJoined AET OFSTED Grade201120122013201420152016
Aylward Academy Apr 2010Good [17] 48%43%43%40%41%-0.12 [18]
Bexleyheath Academy Sep 2011Requires Improvement [19] NA51%61%49%25%-0.56 [20]
Kingsley Academy Apr 2013Requires Improvement [21] 43%47%34%46%38%-0.09 [22]
Nightingale Academy Sep 2010Requires Improvement [23] 42%33%43%35%32%-0.18 [24]
National Maintained Schools59%59%60%57%59%0

In 2015 three of the four schools were below the minimum 40% government "floor standard." [25] Several of the schools have gone backwards with their results, and OFSTED judgements have declined (e.g. Kingsley and Bexleyheath). [26]

On the new measures from 2016 all of the schools have achieved below the national average of "0." Bexleyheath's progress measure is in the bottom 10% of schools for England [27]

Financial management

The 4 LAET schools have had access to additional funding, over and above what other schools would normally receive from the Department for Education. As the Mayor's contribution to the scheme, the schools have received almost £1m in extra funding from Boris Johnson, including £330,000 to Kingsley Academy alone. [28] Previous to this in July 2013 the Mayor's Academies Programme had transferred from the London Development Agency (LDA) to the GLA and the Mayor resigned as a corporate member of LAET. [29]

According to the LAET Annual Financial Report (p7) in 2014 LAET made an in-year deficit (i.e. a loss) of -£544,000. [30] with Nightingale Academy being more than £1m in deficit. [31] At the same time the headcount of teachers reduced by 29 between 2013 and 2014 (from 329 to 299) the number of managers in LAET increased from 28 to 30 and the number of staff paid at £100,000 per annum or more, increased from 2 to 3. [32]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outwood Academy Bydales</span> Academy in Marske-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, England

Outwood Academy Bydales is a mixed secondary school with academy status in Marske-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, England. It has a comprehensive admissions policy and in 2019 had an enrolment of 839 pupils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bexleyheath Academy</span> Mixed secondary school in Bexleyheath, London

Bexleyheath Academy is a mixed secondary school state school in Bexleyheath, in the London Borough of Bexley. Students typically join the school in year 7 or enter into the sixth form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unity City Academy</span> Academy in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England

Unity City Academy is a city academy in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England, sponsored by the Academies Enterprise Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henley Bank High School</span> Academy in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England

Henley Bank High School is an 11 to 18 academy in Gloucester, England. It is sponsored by the Greenshaw Learning Trust. In January 2018, the school was taken over by Greenshaw Learning Trust, in order to assist in improving aspects of the school - this resulted in a name change from Millbrook Academy to Henley Bank High School. The Headteacher is Stephen Derry supported by Executive Head and Director of School Improvement at the Greenshaw Learning Trust, Izzy Ambrose.

Harris Federation is a multi-academy trust of 52 primary and secondary academies in and around London. They are sponsored by Philip Harris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newfield Secondary School</span> Academy in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

Newfield Secondary School is a coeducational secondary school with academy status for 11–16-year-old children, situated in the south of the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, specifically in the Norton Lees area. It is co-located with Talbot Specialist School with which it has some collaborative arrangements. There are approximately just over 1000 students at the school. The current headteacher is Mrs E Anderson, who was originally appointed the post as co-headteacher with Mr D Webster, who later went on to be headteacher at Mercia School. in October 2015. In 2013 the school was sponsored to become an academy as part of its ongoing partnership with King Ecgbert School in Sheffield, with Lesley Bowes assuming the role of executive headteacher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dixons Unity Academy</span> Academy in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England

Dixons Unity Academy, formerly Swallow Hill Community College is an educational secondary school Academy located in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is sponsored by Dixons Academies Trust, having formerly been sponsored by Academies Enterprise Trust (AET).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryde Academy</span> Academy in Ryde, Isle of Wight, England

Ryde Academy is an academy status secondary school, including sixth form, located in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, England.

Sandown Bay Academy, formerly Sandown High School, was an academy status secondary school located in Sandown on the Isle of Wight, England. From 2012 to 31 August 2018 it was sponsored by the Academies Enterprise Trust. On 31 August 2018, the academy closed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingswood Academy, Hull</span> Academy in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England

Kingswood Academy is a secondary school on the northern fringe of the Bransholme housing estate in Kingston upon Hull, England.

Aylward Academy is a mixed secondary school and sixth form in Edmonton, in the London Borough of Enfield for students aged 11 to 18. Since September 2010, it has been an academy sponsored by the Academies Enterprise Trust (AET) family of schools. Remo Iafrate succeeded Jonathan Gillard as Principal. Dele Rotimi succeeded Remo Iafrate in September 2021

East Point Academy is an academy sponsored by the Inspiration Trust, located in the Kirkley district of Lowestoft, in the English county of Suffolk. It educates children from ages 11 to 16. In its latest Ofsted inspection in October 2016, the academy overall was rated as "Good". The school is also home to both the Lowestoft Railway and Lowestoft Ladies Hockey Clubs and the KITE Media Centre

Everest Community Academy is a coeducational secondary school with academy status, in Basingstoke, Hampshire. The school is part of the Bourne Education Trust. Everest is one of ten secondary schools servicing Basingstoke and Deane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sir Herbert Leon Academy</span> Academy in Milton Keynes, England

Sir Herbert Leon Academy is a coeducational comprehensive secondary academy school and sixth form located in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, England. It is currently sponsored by the Academies Enterprise Trust, having become an academy under this sponsorship. Originally founded as two separate boys and girls schools on Bletchley Road (Queensway), the schools unified as a coeducational senior school in 1937. In the 1960s it was renamed to Leon Secondary School, in honour of Sir Herbert Leon, and relocated to Fern Grove in 1971, becoming a comprehensive. The school specialised and became the Leon School and Sports College sometime between 1996 and 2001, and academized as Sir Herbert Leon Academy in 2012. Between 2011 and 2014, the school hosted one of two campuses for the Milton Keynes South Sixth Form, in collaboration with nearby Lord Grey School.

Rivers Academy West London is an 11–18 mixed secondary school and sixth form with academy status in Feltham, London, England. It specialises in business and enterprise. The school opened replacing Longford Community School. It is a part of the multi-academy trust, Aspirations Academies Trust.

Winton Community Academy is a mixed secondary school located in Andover in the English county of Hampshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey</span> Academy in Minster-on-Sea, Kent, England

Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form with academy status, located over two sites in Minster-on-Sea on the Isle of Sheppey in the English county of Kent. It is currently managed by the Oasis Community Learning Multi-academy Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outwood Academy Normanby</span> Academy in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England

Outwood Academy Normanby is a secondary school with academy status, located in the Teesville suburb of Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England. It has a mixed intake of boys and girls ages 11–18, with 600 pupils on roll as of 2019.

The Academies Enterprise Trust (AET) is a multi-academy trust with 57 primary, secondary and special schools in England. One of the largest networks of schools in the country, it is a non-profit, educational trust, which sponsors schools with academy status.

Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) or academy chain is an academy trust that operates more than one academy school. Academy schools are state-funded schools in England which are directly funded by the Department for Education and independent of local authority control. The terms of the arrangements are set out in individual Academy Funding Agreements. The group of schools in a multi-academy trust work together under a shared academy funding agreement.

References

  1. ↑ "LONDON ACADEMIES ENTERPRISE TRUST overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  2. ↑ Burgess, Simon (14 November 2014). "Want to know why London's schools perform better? Immigration". The Guardian . Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "London Academies Enterprise Trust". Companies House. Companies House. Retrieved 26 December 2015. See also the official documents of the Mayor's Office, MD497 which also enshrines the principle that the Mayor, acting on behalf of the GLA, is the Founder Member (as Patron) of Mayor's Academies Limited.
  4. ↑ "London's first Mayoral Academies opened". BBC. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Boffey, Daniel (20 July 2013). "Academy chain under fire following revelation of payments made to bosses". The Guardian . Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "Hansard". Hansard. Parliament. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  7. ↑ "Financial Notice to Improve: Academies Enterprise Trust". Gov.Uk. Department for Education. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "Academies Enterprise Trust: Inspection Outcome Letter". OFSTED. OFSTED. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "London's first Mayoral Academies opened". BBC. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  10. ↑ "Mayor-backed Hounslow academy 'requires improvement' Ofsted says". BBC. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  11. ↑ See Mayor's Office MD843
  12. ↑ "LAET Annual Report and Financial Statement 2014". AET. AET. Retrieved 26 December 2015. See page 30.
  13. ↑ "Aylward Academy: Welcome from the CEO". AET. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  14. ↑ "Companies House" . Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  15. ↑ "School and College Performance Tables". School and College Performance Tables. Department for Education. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  16. ↑ Adams, Richard (23 August 2016). "Progress 8 and GCSEs: will the new way to judge schools be fairer?". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  17. ↑ "Aylward Academy Inspection Reports". OFSTED. OFSTED. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  18. ↑ "Aylward Academy Results". School and College Performance Tables. Department for Education. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  19. ↑ "Bexleyheath Academy Inspection Reports". OFSTED. OFSTED. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  20. ↑ "Bexleyheath Academy Results". School and College Performance Tables. Department for Education. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  21. ↑ "Kingsley Academy Inspection Reports". OFSTED. OFSTED. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  22. ↑ "Kingsley Academy Results". School and College Performance Tables. Department for Education. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  23. ↑ "Nightingale Academy Inspection Reports". OFSTED. OFSTED. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  24. ↑ "Nightingale Academy Results". School and College Performance Tables. Department for Education. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  25. ↑ Adams, Richard (29 January 2015). "Number of English schools failing on GCSE targets doubles in a year". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  26. ↑ "Mayor-backed Hounslow academy 'requires improvement' Ofsted says". BBC. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  27. ↑ "Bexleyheath". Compare School Performance. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  28. ↑ "Mayor-backed Hounslow academy 'requires improvement' Ofsted says". BBC. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  29. ↑ See Mayor's Office MD843
  30. ↑ "LAET Annual Report and Financial Statement 2014". AET. AET. Retrieved 26 December 2015. See page 7.
  31. ↑ "LAET Annual Report and Financial Statement 2014". AET. AET. Retrieved 26 December 2015. See page 33.
  32. ↑ "LAET Annual Report and Financial Statement 2014". AET. AET. Retrieved 26 December 2015. See page 30.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.