How to grow a strong MAT through transfers and mergers

What considerations must schools make when growing a MAT through transfers and mergers?

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on gov.uk

When growing a strong multi-academy trust, you must strike a balance between:

• supporting additional schools;
• maintaining standards at the schools you already manage.

When considering whether to grow, an academy trust will need to consider:

• the geographical fit of schools;
• the educational, financial and capital risks involved.

The process of considering these factors is often referred to as ‘due diligence’.

The growth of church academy trusts will be in accordance with the wider diocesan strategy; academy trusts and dioceses must work closely with their RSC office when considering growth.

The decision about whether a school joins your academy trust should be taken by both the governing body of the school and your academy trust board before being taken to the RSC for a final decision.

Academy trust transfers and mergers

The trust capacity fund 2021-22 was announced in April 2021 to support academy trusts wishing to grow. MATs can grow by consolidating with other academy trusts; small academy trusts can choose to merge together to form a bigger trust which can have a greater impact across the area. Most academy trust transfers or mergers involve the academies from one academy trust legally joining another, rather than establishing a new legal body with associated costs. A new legal body is usually established when:

• a standalone academy trust transfers into a larger MAT;
• a smaller academy trust or academy trust with vulnerable schools joins a stronger academy trust;
• two academy trusts of equal size or capacity want a more equal merger.

A new legal body may involve consultations on:

• vision;
• name change;
• changes to the academy trustees and leadership structures.