Multi-academy trust

More than 100 Universities benefit from Blackboard Learn Ultra across Europe, Middle East and Africa

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 16, 2023
Investment, Partnership, Student, Multi-academy trust, Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin, VLE, Blackboard Learn, AI, Virtual learning environment, University, University of Macerata, Education, Science and technology in Asia, Learning, University of Northampton, Anthology, Hyatt, Tutoring, Educational technology

LONDON, Oct. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Anthology, a leading provider of education solutions that support the entire learner lifecycle, announced more than 100 universities in the region are now delivering 100 percent of their courses on its flagship Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Blackboard Learn Ultra. Courses taught in Blackboard Learn Ultra benefit from the significant investments and product enhancements made over the past 24 months, including industry-leading AI design tools. 

Key Points: 
  • Courses taught in Blackboard Learn Ultra benefit from the significant investments and product enhancements made over the past 24 months, including industry-leading AI design tools.
  • "The benefits of being fully live on Blackboard Learn Ultra, with all classes in the tool, means that students have the most accessible and consistent learning experience across their courses.
  • The momentum with Blackboard Learn Ultra will continue, as institutions in Italy (University of Macerata) and Spain (ILERNA) have recently made announcements they are moving from their respective incumbent VLEs to Blackboard Learn Ultra.
  • "We have made substantial investments in Blackboard Learn Ultra to ensure it meets the evolving needs of educational institutions.

RM plc: Proposed sale of the RM Integris and RM Finance Business

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 28, 2022
Financial Conduct Authority, Risk, RM, RM Education, Circular, TSA, FCA, Disclosure, Academy (English school), Mass meeting, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, Nature, Listing Rules, Education, LSE, The Group, Polaris Sales Agreement, Uncertainty, ICT, Growth, European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, Completion, Annual general meeting, School, Multi-academy trust, Software, Resolution, Learning, University, Security (finance), Risk management, Life insurance, Tutoring, Lease, Baggage, Sale, EU, NewCo

RM plc, a leading supplier of technology and resources to the education sector (LSE: RM) ("RM", the "Company" or, together with its subsidiary undertakings, the "Group"), today announces that it has conditionally agreed to sell the RM Integris and RM Finance Business and related assets of its principal trading subsidiary, RM Education Limited ("RMEL"), (the "RM Integris and RM Finance Business") to The Key Support Services Limited ("The Key").

Key Points: 
  • RM plc, a leading supplier of technology and resources to the education sector (LSE: RM) ("RM", the "Company" or, together with its subsidiary undertakings, the "Group"), today announces that it has conditionally agreed to sell the RM Integris and RM Finance Business and related assets of its principal trading subsidiary, RM Education Limited ("RMEL"), (the "RM Integris and RM Finance Business") to The Key Support Services Limited ("The Key").
  • Sale of the RM Integris and RM Finance Business to The Key for a consideration of up to 16.0 million in cash.
  • We thank all our employees for their excellent work, especially those in the RM Integris and RM Finance Business."
  • The Sale of the RM Integris and RM Finance Business is part of a wider restructure of RM's Technology business under the Group's transformation strategy which was announced in February 2022.

FAQs: Academies and free schools

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 25, 2019
Schools, Educational institutions, Education in the United Kingdom, Secondary education in England, Education in England, Academy, Free school, Multi-academy trust, Academies Financial Handbook, Academies, Academies Act, Education Act

Monday, February 25, 2019This briefing paper answers FAQs about academies and free schools in England. Topics covered include: academy conversion; school places; special educational needs provision; academy land disposal and sale; funding; and accountability.

Key Points: 


House of Commons Library

FAQs: Academies and free schools


    This briefing paper answers FAQs about academies and free schools in England. Topics covered include: academy conversion; school places; special educational needs provision; academy land disposal and sale; funding; and accountability.

What is an academy?

  • Academies and free schools operate in accordance with their funding agreements with the Secretary of State for Education.
  • Although academies, free schools and maintained schools share many similarities, there are some important differences in the rules and legislation that apply to different types of school.

How do free schools differ from academies?


    Free schools are entirely new state schools, offering additional state-funded school places, whereas most academies were previously maintained schools that have converted (or become sponsored academies). Free schools operate in law as academies.

What is a multi-academy trust or MAT? How can I find information on a MAT?


    Multi-academy trusts, or MATs, usually run more than one academy. MATs themselves are single legal entities, and will have one set of trustees. Their member schools operate under a single governance structure. A handful of MATs are very large, with 40 or more schools; most MATs are much smaller, having between 1 and 10 schools. The Department for Education publishes performance data for MATs.

Will all maintained schools have to convert to academy status?

  • In March 2016, the then Government said it would pass legislation to require all remaining maintained schools to convert to academy status by 2022 at the latest.
  • The Government's ambition remained that "all schools should benefit from the freedom and autonomy that academy status brings", but theemphasis would be on supporting schools toward voluntary conversion and building system capacity.

How do parents get places for their children at an academy?

  • Regardless of a state schools legal status, parentsor carers usually apply to their home local authority for school places if they are applying for entry at the usual times (e.g.
  • Parents and carers whose application for a place at an academy is refused have the right to appeal.

How are academies held accountable?

  • The local authority has a limited role in overseeing academies. Instead, their operation is overseen by:
    • The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA – a Department for Education executive agency);
    • Schools’ inspectorate, Ofsted;


    Academies must comply with the current version of the ESFA’s Academies Financial Handbook.

Who owns academy land and buildings? Can property or land be sold off?


    Academies can have various tenure types. Many hold their sites on long leases from the local authority, for a nominal charge. There are controls on the disposal of publicly-funded academy (and maintained school) land. The Secretary of State’s permission is required for the disposal of such land or school land that was originally private but which has been enhanced at public expense.

Curriculum at academies


    Academies aren’t required to follow the national curriculum although some do at least in part. The curriculum requirements for a particular academy can be found in the academy’s funding agreement.

What are the rules about staff employment in academies and free schools?


    Where an academy converts from maintained school status, transferring staff are protected by TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of Employment) arrangements. When hiring new staff, or in the case of entirely new academies and free schools, academy trusts can determine their own pay, terms and conditions for staff, providing they comply with employment law and any relevant terms in their funding agreements.

Are academies a good thing for school standards?


    The arguments for and against academies and free schools, and information on the Government’s wider schools’ policies are covered in a separate Library briefing paper: This research briefing covers England only. There are no academies or free schools in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Damian Hinds MP appears before Education Committee

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Education in the United Kingdom, Education, Secondary education in England, Education in England, Department for Education, Governance of England, Damian Hinds, Academy, Multi-academy trust

Education Committee questions Secretary of State for Education on a range of issues in accountability hearing

Key Points: 
  • The Education Committee hears from Damian Hinds MP, Secretary of State for Education, on range of issues including academies and careers advice.
  • Wednesday 16 January inCommittee Room 8, Palace of Westminster
    Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP, Secretary of State, Department for Education
    The Committee is likely to want to ask about issues including multi-academy trusts and accountability, school exclusions and careers advice.
  • Members could also raise the Government's response to recent Committee reports on higher education and apprenticeships.
  • The Education Secretary will be joined by the Departments Permanent Secretary Jonathan Slater and the Committee could touch on the subject of academy finance and the Academy Sector Annual Report and Accounts.

Damian Hinds MP appears before Education Committee

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Education in the United Kingdom, Education, Secondary education in England, Education in England, Department for Education, Governance of England, Damian Hinds, Academy, Multi-academy trust

Education Committee questions Secretary of State for Education on a range of issues in accountability hearing

Key Points: 
  • The Education Committee hears from Damian Hinds MP, Secretary of State for Education, on range of issues including academies and careers advice.
  • Wednesday 16 January inCommittee Room 8, Palace of Westminster
    Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP, Secretary of State, Department for Education
    The Committee is likely to want to ask about issues including multi-academy trusts and accountability, school exclusions and careers advice.
  • Members could also raise the Government's response to recent Committee reports on higher education and apprenticeships.
  • The Education Secretary will be joined by the Departments Permanent Secretary Jonathan Slater and the Committee could touch on the subject of academy finance and the Academy Sector Annual Report and Accounts.