Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, Angela Rayner MP, responding to BBC Panorama’s investigation into the oversight and regulation of academy trusts, said:

“An urgent and independent inquiry is needed into the regulation of academy trusts in light of these appalling revelations about Bright Tribe Trust. These findings and other allegations raise serious concerns about accountability to governors and parents, and government oversight of taxpayers’ money. Ministers themselves have serious questions to answer about their own role, and their continued refusal to release key reports and information.

“Public money has been handed out for work that has not been done, even leaving a school premises at fire risk, and parents and taxpayers need to be assured that this malpractice will be stamped out. We cannot allow private interests to line their own pockets by ripping off taxpayers and students. With our children’s education at stake, we cannot allow profit to come ahead of pupils”.