UNISON calls for new government inquiry into academy chain accused of misusing public funds

The government must launch a fresh inquiry into Bright Tribe following new allegations that the troubled multi-academy trust has misused public money, says UNISON today (Monday). It follows revelations set to be broadcast tonight by BBC’s Panorama programme that Bright Tribe – which runs ten schools in England – received funding for work on schools that was either not finished or simply never carried out. The union, whose findings contributed to Panorama’s investigation, says the government has failed to act properly. Three years ago UNISON made a complaint to the then regulator, the Education Funding Agency (EFA) and subsequently to the National Audit Office (NAO), about the Bright Tribe academy chain, sponsored by Helping Hands Trust Ltd, a charity set up by multi-millionaire businessman Michael Dwan. UNISON’s complaint in July 2015 was the original trigger for an investigation by the EFA into financial management, internal audit arrangements and the way contracts for goods and services were being awarded. With no apparent bidding process, the contracts were awarded to companies linked to Michael Dwan or other key figures at Bright Tribe and the Adventure Learning Academies Trust (ALAT), Bright Tribe’s sister academy chain. While the EFA was still investigating Bright Tribe, the government gave it more money – this time £1m to help turn around underperforming schools in the North. UNISON, unhappy with this and the EFA’s response to its complaint, sent a ...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: news