The following document is the policy proposal for the updated LDBE Academy Strategy, which ends in December 2026. The LDBE invites feedback on this proposed policy for it to consider.

Policy background

The view of the LDBE is that all Church of England schools in the Diocese of Lichfield will join a strong Multi Academy Trust (MAT) at a point in the future.

In the view of the LDBE, the system of both LA and Acadeies cannot continue to coexist as it has done and needs to move to a fully academised model over time.

Finances within schools and MATs are under considerable pressure. Government funding models and economies of scale will lead to an inevitable increase in the size of MATs and therefore a reduction in the number of MATs over time.

The process of moving schools into a MAT is a complex legal process. The LDBE and Local Authorities need a number of years to complete this work. Therefore, the LDBE encourages schools to begin this process as soon as possible, even if only in an associate school model initially.

A key question for the DBE has been the extent to which the board limit, guide, direct or restrict the system – both in terms of MATs that schools can join and how MATs come together and the extent to which it allows the system to develop organically.

At this stage, the LDBE will not normally direct a school to join a single specified MAT, nor withhold consent in order to restrict a school’s choice to one MAT. However, it will seek greater assurance regarding trust quality and encourage the development of stronger geographical clusters, in line with the ambitions set out by the DfE in its 2026 White Paper.

It has also taken the deliberate decision that it will encourage MATs holding Majority Articles of Association to reach a critical mass of at least 3000 in the medium term and to become larger in the longer term. This is either through promoting growth in those MATs, encouraging other MATs to join them or by merging the MAT itself into another MAT if this were thought to be of long-term benefit to the current and future pupils.

The situation remains that schools wanting to explore joining a MAT must first contact the Director of Education for the Diocese of Lichfield, who acts for and on behalf of the LDBE as their officer representative. Introductions to MATs will now be via the DDE and it will be shared with CEOs that any direct contact from Headteachers to them needs to be referred back to the DDE to explore the policy possibilities in the first instance.

Criteria to include a Multi Academy Trust in the diocesan trust growth strategy

To be included in the diocesan trust growth strategy for schools that are not currently in a MAT, MATs must:

  1. Hold Majority Articles of Association at Member level
    These must be the updated version released in September 2023. There has now been considerable time for trusts to update these and provide assurances that the updates would be completed. This must now be completed prior to diocesan consent being granted. Trusts that wish Voluntary Aided schools to join must also hold Majority Articles of Association at Trust Board level.
  2. Demonstrate a high level of commitment to Christian Distinctiveness at both school and trust level
  • The MAT must purchase the SLA with the LDBE, including future developments linked to MAT level SIAMs inspections.
  • We will want to see the trust development plan, which includes Christian Distinctiveness as an integral part of it.
  1. Demonstrate a track record of achievement, with a MAT profile showing pupil level data that is at least in line with national standards.
    The LDBE will want to be assured that the data profile of the MAT is in line with this ambition and ask that it present this information to the LDBE to provide assurance.
  2. Demonstrate the MAT is fulfilling the High Quality Trusts framework (to be replaced with the Trust Standards in Autumn 2026).
  3. The MAT must hold between 5% and 20% of annual income as a reserve.
    The MAT will need to explain in detail why it is holding a lower or higher level of reserve to the LDBE and outline this in their reserves policy.
  4. Demonstrate a commitment to high-quality governance
    An external review of governance must have been carried out in the last 3 years. The LDBE asks that this and the associated action plan is shared with them.
  5. Demonstrate adherence to the Academy Trust Handbook and SIAMS framework

Multi Academy Trusts included in the MAT growth strategy would have any growth suspended if:

  • The trust received a DfE warning letter or published warning notice (NTI)
  • Any school in the trust received an ‘Urgent Improvement’ Ofsted judgement in any category
  • Any school in the trust receives a J2 SIAMS judgement
  • The trust stops engaging positively with the LDBE

In these circumstances, a review would be undertaken by the LDBE before growth could resume and any current projects would be held.

It should be noted that the LDBE are not seeking additional material to be prepared for oversight of points 1-7  above. It is asking to see material that would already be prepared for the Trust board as part of usual governance arrangements.

Applying to become part of the LDBE growth strategy

MATs who already fulfil the criteria for Articles of Association will be asked for information to satisfy the criteria set out.

MATs who hold Minority Articles of Association may ask for an assessment against the rest of the criteria and a request to change their Articles of Association to a majority model and therefore be included to potentially receive schools that are not yet in MATs. The LDBE will consider if the MAT meets the criteria set and if it suits the purposes of the LDBE to bring the trust into the growth model. LDBE considerations will include the impact on other MATs and the capacity of the MAT sector to absorb demand.

MATs who do not hold any form of Church of England Articles of Association with the Diocese of Lichfield are not permitted to apply to receive such Articles of Association and therefore, cannot join the growth strategy. This has been the consistent practice of the LDBE since September 2020.

Should there be insufficient MATs available within the growth strategy, the LDBE will lead the approach in securing additional capacity. The LDBE previously operated an exceptions policy where an organisation could apply to form a new MAT. This has been withdrawn.

Mergers and Acquisitions

It is accepted and expected within the MAT sector that MATs will need to come together to form suitably sized organisations for the future.

The LDBE’s preferred position is that trusts join a MAT that operates under Church of England Articles of Association with the Diocese of Lichfield. Before pursuing or discussing other options with the LDBE, trusts will be expected to demonstrate that all reasonable opportunities with MATs already operating under such Articles have been explored.

Separately (i.e. without exploring available options), the LDBE will consider applications for a Church of England Articles MAT to join another MAT (and transfer the articles) where there is a clear missional advantage to do so.

If one MAT holds a higher level of Church of England Articles of Association, the higher level will always be retained, and Articles of Association must be updated to the most recent available model.

The LDBE expects MATs coming together to have a minimum of 25% of schools designated Church of England – therefore forming a significant core of the MAT.

Consent has to be obtained for all structural changes that impact Church of England schools from the LDBE.

Forced structural change

In the case of the DFE requiring structural change, the LDBE will work with the DFE to identify and secure a suitable partner, subject to our criteria above.

Voluntary transfer

There are rare occasions when a mixed MAT considers, either for reasons of geography, school improvement, merger of other schools or other reason, that the Church of England schools are to transfer to another MAT.

Where this is the case, the MAT should arrange to meet with the Diocesan Director of Education to discuss this and bring together a proposal. The principles of our policies remain, but the LDBE will not require a higher level of Articles of Association than currently applies to the school as a prerequisite.

Process for a school joining a MAT

  • The school makes contact with the LDBE
  • The DDE (or person delegated by them) meets with the representative(s) of the school to identify a trust shortlist.
  • The DDE will then contact the MATs on the shortlist and do an email introduction between school and MAT for them to begin discussions.
  • The DDE will check in with the school during the process and engage with MATs to refocus as appropriate prior to them being brought to the LDBE for approval.

Schools with Debt

A number of schools in the diocese carry a significant debt. Financial benchmarking (at the time of writing in August 2026) is only available up to March 2025 and it is therefore not possible to gain an accurate view of how many schools this applies to.

The LDBE believes that schools should work within their set budgets and take the difficult decisions early around budgets, rather than using licensed deficits. It acknowledges that, at times, the funding formula does not give the school sufficient resources to deliver the education that it believes children should receive.

For schools with debt, the LDBE will approach a partner MAT as per the procedure above. However, the school will not initially progress into the MAT. Instead, the school and the MAT will work in partnership (for which the MAT may receive a fee), which will include bringing the debt level down over time to a level where the trustees of the MAT consider the risk low enough to bring the school into the MAT. It is expected that both organisations will sign a Memorandum of Understanding for this work.

The LDBE will expect all MATs within the growth strategy to be prepared to operate in this way and believes this gives the greatest compromise in ensuring all schools receive the right levels of support and structure, without bringing unnecessary risk to MAT finances.

Local Authority view

All local authorities have the opportunity to meet regularly with the DDE, with some choosing to do so on a termly basis, while others do not take up this opportunity. In those local authorities that meet with the DDE, discussions have included whether the introduction of additional MATs into the local authority area would be beneficial.

Importance of geography in identifying potential MAT partners

The DfE’s 2026 White Paper and subsequent policy direction emphasise the importance of MATs having a strong geographical basis. This will be a significant consideration when developing a shortlist of MATs for discussion with a school.

Definitions

Majority Articles – a Trust where the majority of the Members and the majority of the Trustees/Directors are appointed by The Diocese of Lichfield.

Majority Articles – broken down to, Majority Members / Minority Trustees – a Trust where the majority of the Members and the minority of the Trustees/Directors are appointed by The Diocese of Lichfield.

Minority Articles – a Trust where the minority of the Members and the minority of the Trustees/Directors are appointed by The Diocese of Lichfield.

LDBE Schools and Academies Strategy Jan 27 – Dec 29 Consultation

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