Read the Times article: Academies growing too fast, say experts

The Times (paid for service) reports that some of the charities running academies may have expanded too quickly, reducing their chances of turning around failing schools, according to experts. Analysis by The Times has highlighted wide variations in the schools taken on by the academy “chains” that are transforming education in England. The analysis by The Times shows that the most successful chains have expanded more slowly and, with a higher proportion of strong academies, can give more school-to-school support.

Christine Gilbert, Commission Chair of Academies Commission, has suggested that some chains had expanded too quickly and ought to focus on improving the academies they have. The Commission will publish a report on 10th January. Ms Gilbert said:

“The commission took evidence from a number of academy chains and was persuaded that many of them, though far from all, are making an important difference to the quality of education. Some of the more successful chains expressed understandable caution about expanding too quickly. They are right not to be diverted from focused support for their current academies where improvement is still fragile and achievement not yet good enough.”