Best Practice

Academies: Conflicts of interest

Legal advice Government policy
In light of two damning reports looking into conflicts of interest within academies, legal expert Tom Wainwright warns of the importance of having clear policies to prevent conflicts arising.

A recent report prepared for the House of Commons Education Select Committee is likely to raise new questions about whether governance procedures at academy schools are sufficiently robust.

The report from the University of London’s Institute of Education, which focuses specifically on conflicts of interest, found that while regulation of conflicts of interest has improved over the last two years, some serious concerns remain.

The report’s more eye-catching findings have already made national headlines.

Despite interviewing only 14 individuals working in the academy sector, the report’s authors unearthed stories such as those of the school which paid a company run by a friend of the head £50,000 for a one-day training course, and the chair of governors who told staff that they would be dismissed if they discussed contraception or abortion with students.

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