‘Greater governance needed for behind-scenes deals at academies’

The Education Select Committee has released the result of study into academy funding and accountability which showed “questionable practices” were taking place at many organisations.

Academies are paying large sums of public money for services provided by trust board members and their companies but the system for regulating potential conflicts of interest is too weak, expert research has found.

The research comes after long running concerns into the financial affairs of Kings Science Academy. The Bradford school has been at the centre of a financial scandal for almost a year after it emerged that a DfE audit investigation alleged that the school had submitted fabricated invoices to claim public money in 2011. The school has also faced questions over whether or not a Conservative party donor was a senior governor.

Last night Graham Stuart, chairman of the education select committee, said research commissioned by the committee highlighted long running concerns.

Asked about the situation at Kings, and whether their is sufficient monitoring in place, Mr Stuart said the research covered financial conflicts of interest “but there are others which are indirect as well”.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan will be questioned about the “loopholes” in regulation when she appears before the committee. The research by experts from the University of London’s Institute of Education found the system had improved but there were still problems.