Schools in talks to join academy trust

JFS had previously been expected to join the consortium, which would have more than doubled the number of children under its umbrella, but after more than a year of talks, the move did not go ahead. Financial issues had proved “insuperable”, Mr Jones said.

The government has long favoured the development of multi-academy trusts and at one point said it wanted to see every state school become part of one by 2030 — although it did not include that aspiration in last year’s, subsequently ditched Schools Bill.

At their best, trusts can help schools to cut costs by streamlining administration and to improve through sharing best practice.

Mr Jones, a school improvement specialist who arrived in January last year, said he expected the JCAT team dealing with information technology and human resources to expand.

The trust last year recruited Wolfson Hillel deputy head Tamar Cohen as a school improvement partner to focusi on the Jewish ethos of the schools. Her role is to support teachers with curriculum and assessment.

JCAT was also looking to roll out a maths mastery programme developed by Wolfson Hillel to other schools.

While there have been reports of falling primary numbers in some areas, he said he was “pleased to say…applications for reception are pretty steady” for JCAT schools.

JCAT schools had also been managing to stay within budget, he said, despite having to find the money for staff pay rises unfunded by the government.