Multi-academy trust planning to quadruple number of its primary schools –but parents at one told that their governing body will retain “accountability”. Really?

A multi-academy trust this week unveiled plans to quadruple the number of its primary schools, months after a new chief executive took the reins.

However, a letter to parents at one of the schools – apparently inviting them to accept its “decision” to permanently change its control structure by joining the trust – seemed to contain a number of questionable claims.

Governors at Lyndhurst primary in Camberwell, south London, told parents that they would retain “accountability” for the institution even after it joins the multi-academy trust. However, in reality government documents confirm that accountability – and ultimately all power - sits at the level of the trust itself once a school academises, rather than with any individual school.

The letter, signed off by Ruth Ashby, chair of governors at Lyndhurst, was sent to parents on Wednesday. It sets out plans to join the Charter Schools Educational Trust, which currently has three schools including only one primary and is based nearby in North Dulwich.

The letter begins: “We are writing to you as a governing body to share our plans for the future of Lyndhurst.