The Department for Education (DfE) has issued a formal Notice to Improve to the Mighty Oaks Academy Trust following concerns regarding its financial governance and management.
The notice, published on 2 October 2026, marks a significant regulatory intervention for the Shropshire-based organisation. It requires the trust to take specific actions to address identified weaknesses in its oversight and financial practices or face further intervention.
Proposed transfer of schools
Based at Priorslee Academy in Telford, the Mighty Oaks Academy Trust is also responsible for Buildwas Academy. The issuance of the notice follows earlier developments regarding the future of both schools and their management structure.
In August 2026, the DfE considered proposals for Priorslee Academy and Buildwas Academy to transfer away from Mighty Oaks to join St Bart’s Multi Academy Trust. The latest intervention suggests the trust remains under close regulatory scrutiny as it moves through a period of transition.
The timing of the Notice to Improve is notable, as it was published just 24 hours after the new Academy Trust Handbook 2026 became effective on 1 October 2026. The handbook sets out the financial and governance requirements that all academy trusts must follow to ensure the proper use of public funds.
A Notice to Improve is a formal letter issued when a trust fails to comply with the standards set out in the handbook. While the specific details of the financial breaches are typically contained within the annexes of the notice, the document serves as a public record that the trust is required to implement an urgent plan for improvement. Failure to meet the conditions of the notice can lead to the termination of a trust’s funding agreement.
