Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when (a) he and (b) officials in his Department were made aware of the financial concerns relating to Bright Tribe academy trust; and what steps his Department has taken to address those concerns.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) have a robust intervention strategy, built on a clear framework and communicated and regulated through trusts’ funding agreements and the Academies Financial Handbook.

The former Secretary of State (Nicky Morgan), my right hon. Friend for Loughborough, was initially made aware of the financial concerns relating to Bright Tribe Trust in July 2015.

The ESFA has worked closely with Bright Tribe Trust since 2015. An initial Financial Management and Governance Review was completed in November 2015, with follow up visits in September 2016 and August 2017. In June 2018, we made a further visit to Bright Tribe Trust in relation to the outstanding capital issues at The Whitehaven Academy.

The ESFA reviews all allegations received about Bright Tribe Trust and individual schools within the trust. Following most recent allegations, a warning letter was issued by the EFSA on 7 August 2018.