Academy chain set to scrap school governing bodies

The E-ACT academy chain is set to scrap local governing bodies in its schools across England.

Governing bodies often include local representatives, including parents school staff and local business’s that act to hold schools to account and influence decisions on hiring staff and monitoring budgets.

In place of traditional governing bodies, E-ACT will introduce academy ambassadorial advisory bodies, as well as a centralised process for monitoring standards, rather than governors at an individual level.

Existing governors at E-ACT’s 23 schools across England have reportedly been sent a letter inviting them to join the new advisory bodies, which will have less powers to influence decisions on finances and recruitment. Chairs of these new bodies will also be selected by E-Act instead of the current system where governors vote.

Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, has labelled the move as ‘undemocratic’. She said: “This move to reduce the rights of local communities, parents and teachers to a say in the running of their schools is undemocratic and sets a dangerous precedent. Academies are state schools funded by taxpayers to educate local children. There is already no role for the elected local authority to oversee processes and procedures in academies. This leaves a big responsibility for governing bodies, which currently include seats for parents to provide essential oversight and hold academies to account. It has been shown time and again that academies and free schools need more oversight and accountability, not less.

“What is becoming quite clear is that the academy and free school programme is turning its back on an education system that is accountable to the taxpayer. There can be no good reason to remove a layer of people responsible for and interested in the running of a school. This will simply mean when things go wrong they will be unchecked for longer. Parents and pupils in E-ACT schools will be shocked by this decision which must be reversed.”

However, speaking to the BBC, Noran Flynn, chair of governors at Heartlands academy, said: "The changes being made by E-ACT will help volunteers to still be a core part of the scrutiny of the school's performance, but to do it alongside professionals in the field with the time to dedicate to the role."