1: PAC conclusion: The Department for Education has not yet set out how it will deliver its ambition to establish a fully academised school sector that best supports pupils. 1: PAC recommendation: When the Department publishes its Schools White Paper it should be clear about its plan for full academisation. The plan should clearly set out the Department’s overall timetable, milestones and measures of success for academisation, and how the Department will: • Ensure academisation achieves the intended outcomes for all pupils across all regions; • Have a plan to support schools that may be less attractive to sponsors; and • Ensure clear and effective due diligence prior to a maintained school converting to an academy, that takes into account geographic variations and access to learning provision. 1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2022 1.2 The Department for Education (the department) published the Schools White Paper, Opportunity for all, on 28 March 2022. The fourth chapter sets out a clear timeframe to achieve a fully trust-led system, with all schools to be in or joining a strong multi-academy trust (MAT) by 2030. 1.3 This will be achieved through growth of strong trusts and the establishment of new ones, including trusts established by local authorities (LAs). The department will take a single regulatory approach, launching a regulatory review in May 2022 and, for the first time, setting out the definition of a strong trust. The success of MATs in delivering against the definition of a strong trust as set out in the Schools White Paper will be the basis for transparent assessments of their potential for growth. 1.4 The department will set out plans which will provide further detail on the pathway to a fully trust-led system, after further engagement with the sector. 1.5 The department is working with Falcon Education Academies Trust and St Joseph’s Catholic MAT to pilot a new approach for schools that, for various reasons, cannot be placed with a strong MAT sponsor. The White Paper sets out policies to remove barriers that are preventing schools from benefiting from the support of a strong trust. LAs will be able to establish new strong trusts, and church and faith schools will have their unique ethos protected as they join or form trusts. Regional Directors will engage local partners to determine the best way to develop a strong trust landscape that suits their area – investing up to £86 million over the next three areas in building trust capacity, focused particularly in Education Investment Areas.