Government to Introduce Academy Trust Inspections

13th Feb 2026

What has been announced:

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced plans for formal inspections of multi-academy trusts (MATs), groups that run multiple state schools, for the first time. These plans have been added to a new law called the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill currently progressing through Parliament.

Why this matters:

Right now, individual schools are inspected (for example by Ofsted), but there hasn’t been a formal process to inspect the MATS as a whole. Such as how a MAT leads, manages and supports all its schools together. The new inspections aim to give parents and communities a clearer picture of how effectively MATs are running their schools overall.

Mult-academy trust inspections will focus on leadership, governance and impact

how effectively MATs improve schools

provide high quality education

support staff

resources

promote pupil wellbeing

After inspection, a written report will be published so parents can see what’s working well and what needs improvement.

The inspection will provide a route of recognition and celebration of those who are transforming outcomes for pupils. However, if a MAT is found not to be meeting acceptable standards, there will be new powers to intervene, for example, by moving schools to stronger trusts where needed

Is this starting now?

It’s not yet in law. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill still needs to complete its journey through Parliament before these inspections can begin. Once the law is in place, further rules and timelines (such as how often inspections happen) will be set out.

NNPCF hopes that a stronger focus on MAT level decision making will mean that the processes and practices, such as the ones families raise with local Parent Carer Forums are looked at more closely.

Parents regularly report to PCFs about issues that can significantly affect children and young people with SEND, such as off-rolling, high rates of exclusion, concerns about admissions, the use of part-time timetables, curriculum approaches that may not meet individual needs, and MAT wide behaviour or attendance policies.

Greater scrutiny at MAT level should help ensure these policies and practices are fair, inclusive and centred on the needs of children and young people with SEND.

Furthermore, the NNPCF believe that the formal inspections of multi-academy trusts (MATs) must ensure that the views of children young people and parent carers are consulted and remain at the heart of the inspection.

Link to DfE Press Release: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-introduce-academy-trust-inspections