Brighton University Academies Trust to stop running several schools amid alleged budget scandal

• ITV Meridian's James Dunham

A chain of schools in Sussex, sponsored by the University of Brighton, has told the Government it plans to hand its portfolio of academies over to other providers, ITV News Meridian can reveal.

The University of Brighton Academies Trust (UoBAT) has been at the centre of a scandal over how much it takes from individual school budgets to run its central services.

The UBAT which currently runs 11 primary schools and three secondary schools in Sussex - including Hastings, Burgess Hill and St Leonards Academies, is believed to have kept around 20% of the funding.

Staff at five schools which the Trust runs went on strike earlier this year, with picket lines held in Burgess Hill and Hastings.

But now the Trust has announced it is offloading the schools to other academy trusts.

In a letter to parents it says it is facing 'times of challenge and times of change'.

• James Ellis, National Education Union

James Ellis from the National Education Union, said: "We don't know who the next employer is going to be, so understandably people are quite anxious about what it is going to mean.

"I would imagine it's not just staff within the student schools but students as well, families and the community around these schools are going to be wanting to know what comes next.

"From our point of view, any future employer, whoever that is, is going to have to meet a certain number of demands from us.

"They have to have a fair and transparent funding model so we know how money, that is designated for our student's education, is being spent."

The MP for Hastings and Rye, Helena Dollimore said she welcomes the announcement. Speaking to ITV Meridian's Political Correspondent she said: "The current situation could not continue - we have too many children in Hastings and Rye being failed by local schools and that needs to change."

• Helena Dollimore, MP for Hastings and Rye

"Last month, I raised this in the House of Commons and the Minister confirmed this could not continue, so I welcome the news today. It's an opportunity for a fresh start for our local schools so that we can make sure we drive up standards and get every child in Hastings and Rye the best quality education.

"What I will be looking at when we look at who should be running those schools going forwards is people who are interested in working with the community of Hastings, not against the community, and people who are genuinely committed to driving up standards in our schools and turning around our local schools.

"It's not acceptable that half our young people leave without the basic qualifications in English and maths.

"And now we have an opportunity to reset that and drive up standards."

• Alison Bennett, MP for Mid Sussex

The MP for Mid Sussex, said: "The real problem with the University of Brighton Academy Trust was that it was retaining far too much money for its central functions and not giving the schools enough money to buy the basics like books, papers and pens.

"So, I’m really hopeful that going forward the new Trust, that the schools will become part of, will get a much better deal.

"They certainly should be, and if they aren’t I will be making sure that we are asking the right questions."

A UBAT spokesperson said: "The Board of Trustees of University of Brighton Academies Trust met on Friday 10 January to consider the future of the Trust.

"Following this meeting, the Trustees have informed the Department for Education of their desire to seek to transfer the academies in the Trust to other Academy Trusts.

"The Trustees are committed to improving the outcomes for all young people at every stage of their education and view this significant step as the best way for this to be achieved.

"The Trust will be working closely with the Department for Education over the months that come to seek the right Trusts for academies to join, and to give stability and continuity to all our stakeholders through the time of change."

A Department for Education spokesperson, said: "We will now work closely with the Trust, schools and local authorities involved to select the strongest alternative providers for each of the schools and to ensure a smooth transition.

"High and rising standards in every school, including in Hastings, is at the heart of this government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity."

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