MATs are our future

Canon Joy Tubbs said:
“The DBE believes that belonging within a thriving multi academy trust where partnership working and shared accountability underpins school provision, will be a key to ensuring church schools of the future go from strength to strength.”

Education Secretary Damian Hinds told religious representatives at a round table discussion that a move to convert more faith schools to academies would place "freedom into the hands of school leaders."
Academy schools are state-funded schools in England which are directly funded by the Department for Education, and are independent of local authority control.
Commenting on Mr Hinds’ remarks, Canon Tubbs said:
“The Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education welcomes the Secretary of State’s continued desire to work in partnership with the Church of England and his acknowledgement of the quality of education provision within Church schools nationally.

“The SDBE has been delighted to play our part in the shaping of the academy trust landscape across our diocese and to work to establish new schools. Church schools from Royal Wootton Bassett to Bridport now belong within 20 multi academy trust families, who are enabling us to deliver the national Church of England vision for education to support the flourishing of all children. Currently 84 of the 195 church schools are academies, with 10 more about to convert and many more actively exploring this route.

“We welcome and value the positive relationship that we have with the South West Regional Schools Commissioner and are committed to working with schools and their parish communities to support the development of the academy landscape in the most strategic way.”

In a letter to the Rt Revd Stephen Conway, the Bishop of Ely who is chair of the
Chair of the National Society Council, Mr Hinds said:
“I wanted to write to you to thank you for the positive engagement which the Church of England and its dioceses have made in relation to the academies and free schools programmes.

“I know that many Church of England dioceses are leading change in supporting the establishment of MATs for all Church of England schools in their area and the Department strongly welcomes this. We would also hope and encourage over time all other dioceses to adopt this approach.

“In joining a Church of England MAT, I am confident that your schools will be able to enjoy benefits such as economies of scale, and so be able to invest more in what matters most: teaching."