Strong support for inspection of academy chains

Heads and teachers’ leaders have welcomed a report by MPs calling on Ofsted to inspect academy chains and for greater collaboration between schools.

The investigation by the all-party House of Commons Education Select Committee warns that with half of all secondary schools now academies, there is a danger of them working in isolation rather than in collaboration with others to raise standards. The committee’s report finds that currently there is little incentive for schools to work together.

It also urges for Ofsted to be allowed to inspect academy chains in a similar way to which it inspects local authorities.

Elsewhere, the committee argues that there should be a mechanism to allow outstanding schools to leave academy chains, even without the approval of the organisation running the chain. The MPs also raise concerns that some academies are failing to work with struggling schools in their localities.