This document outlines a proposed model for the management and oversight of schools in England. Key aspects include: 1) Sub-regional commissioners would contract with approved managerial tier providers like local authorities, multi-academy trusts, or individual trusts to manage schools. 2) The commissioners would monitor performance data and OFSTED evaluations to approve or terminate contracts with managerial providers. 3) If a school is underperforming, the commissioner could terminate the contract with its existing provider and run a competition to find a new provider to take over the failing school. 4) Over time, all schools would become academies and receive funding through contracts with managerial providers, even if managed by an

1. (Sub?) Regional
Commissioners
Local Authority Trust
Multi Academy Trust
Individual Trust
Schools
The Middle Tier
Ofsted
Sub-Regional Commissioners
Management of School Places
Through the creation of these roles the state
becomes the contractor for all schools. The
commissioners would enter into contracts with an
approved provider from the managerial tier and
funds the delivery of that contract for its duration.
The commissioner can extend both the time and
scale of a contract increasing the number of places
available within a school and running competitions
for managerial tier providers to open new schools
where necessary.
Contracts will be for a specified period of time.
Approval of Managerial Tier Providers
The commissioner would manage a rigorous rolling
licence programme for all managerial tier providers
– supported by school performance data and Ofted
judgements.
Intervention in Failing Schools
If a school has continued poor performance, is
placed into special measures and it judged to not
have the capacity within its current arrangements
to improve then the commissioner could terminate
the contract with the existing provider and run a
competition for a new managerial provider to take
over the failing school.
The commissioner will have some limited capacity
to intervene in the school whilst the transfer
process is underway to ensure that immediate
steps are taken to address underperformance – for
example an IEB Managerial Tier
A managerial tier provider (LA, Chain or Single
Academy Trust) operates under contract with the
commissioner . These providers can expand by
winning competitions for new schools, attracting
schools from other providers when contracts
expire or by taking over schools that have been
failed by their existing provider.
Schools
Over a realistic time period all schools could be
converted to academy status and so have the same
funding arrangement through a managerial tier
provider (even if this is an individual trust).
Schools move providers if they are under-
performing or if, at the end of the current contract,
they decide that a move is in their best interests.
Collaboration & Innovation
Beyond their relationship with their managerial tier
provider heads are encouraged to collaborate and
innovate. This might include teaching school
alliances, religious networks and local networks.
Schools move providers if they are under-
performing or if, at the end of the current contract,
they decide that a move is in their best interests.
New Schools & Changing Managerial Providers
If a district needs a new school or an under-
performing school has been removed from a
managerial provider the commissioner will run a
transparent competition to find a managerial
provider (either existing or new) that can
open/turn around the school.
The competition process will include ‘Community
Hearings’ where the shortlisted managerial
providers are able to put their case to local people
whose views will be incorporated into the decision
making framework.
Ofsted
Ofsted will continue to inspect all schools and will
begin inspecting all managerial tier providers. It’s
judgements will be taken into account when
deciding where contacts should be awarded.
Shouldn’t the LA commission new schools? No.
1) Quality is highly variable across authorities
2) Specialist skill set required – not viable to
maintain within each authority due to frequency
of new schools opening.
3) LA managerial tier provider so conflict of
interest if it is commissioner and provider.
Schools in Multi-Academy Trusts have no individual
Governing Body – how would they make the
decision to leave a managerial provider at the end
of a contract?
Schools that are performing well should have a
mechanism by which they can move to another
managerial provider if they wish to. This would
involve amendments to the academies act.
If all schools are academies how would the
Local Authority continue to be a
Managerial Tier Provider?
Over time, each Local Authority that
wanted to be a Managerial Provider would
set up a Trust in the same way as an
Academy Chain.