Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department will take to ensure that new providers who take over schools that have been issued with academy orders are better suited to provide education for pupils in those schools.

To be approved as an academy sponsor, applicants go through a rigorous assessment process and are required to demonstrate that they have the skills and expertise to help under-performing schools improve rapidly. The criteria considered can be found at: www.gov.uk/sponsor-an-academy

Outcomes of all applications are determined by the relevant Regional Schools Commissioner, advised by their Head Teacher Board of outstanding academy leaders.