Academisation pace slows as general election looms

Members of the UK200Group, the professional services organisation representing independent chartered accountants and law firms has seen the pace of schools joining Multi Academy Trusts (MAT) slow ahead of the general election.
 
Members, including the acting chair of the UK200 Charities & Education Group, Fran Johnson, partner at WR Partners, highlighted other financial issues affecting many schools including addressing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete cost, funding salary increases, and issues with pensions and teachers’ retirement.
 
Fran Johnson, comments; “As recently as 12 months ago we would have expected the Government’s objective of all schools having made the transition to a MAT, but a combination of political uncertainty and unpredictable financial costs have made this far less likely.
 
"If the government wants certainty that the 2030 target will be hit, they need to guarantee to support salary rises outside of existing school budgets. They also need to guarantee to cover the extraordinary costs associated with building maintenance as a result or aerated concrete. Finally, we would also recommend that the inflexibility of the teachers’ pension is addressed in order to provide greater flexibility on funding costs for both the school and teacher, and retirement options. Schools and academies simply cannot tolerate another 15 months of pre-electoral inertia.”