DfE dramatically cutting safeguarding checks on academy trusts as it “streamlines” regulation of the sector

The DfE: cutting safeguarding interventions as it "streamlines" academy regulation

The Department for Education is cutting dramatically the number of safeguarding checks it makes on academy trusts as part of a move to “streamline” regulation of the sector, Education Uncovered has been told.

Following a reorganisation of the regulation of the academies sector which has seen much oversight move from the DfE’s Education and Skills Funding Agency to its regions group – led by regional directors formerly called regional schools directors – there appears now to be a reduction in the number of safeguarding interventions being carried out.

One source close to the DfE said the move meant that a “great deal of cases will not be investigated,” and that this was “greatly concerning”. The DfE responded that “children’s safety and wellbeing is of the highest priority,” but that it was implementing a more “proportionate” approach to handling safeguarding cases.

The background

The oversight of safeguarding concerns raised in relation to academy trusts appears to have gone through two phases of change in the past 18 months.