Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Department for Education sought evidence from the education publishing sector about the market impact of Oak National Academy after the full scope and budget was known in September.

The decision to establish Oak National Academy was taken with due regard to a robust assessment of market impact, which was informed by the commercial sector. Monitoring market impact is a priority and will continue throughout Oak National Academy’s lifetime. Results will be factored into the body’s ongoing evaluation and two-year review.

As an integral part of the process to set up Oak National Academy as an arm’s length body, the department produced a business case which included an assessment of potential market impact, including in the educational publishing sector. This business case was published on GOV.UK on 1 November 2022: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/oak-national-academy-business-case.