The money was awarded to raise standards in deprived areas in South Yorkshire, Bradford, Greater Manchester, Northumberland and Tees Valley.

It was pointed out at the time that Sir Michael Wilkins had been previously criticised for taking £500,000 consultancy fees over and above his salary; then a financial audit by Wakefield Council reportedly uncovered an “excessive rewards culture” with lavish spending on foreign trips.

[7] In July 2016, a report by the Education Policy Institute found that at the secondary level "Outwood Grange is the best large academy group (10 schools or more)".

[9] The academy trust operates a zero tolerance discipline policy with children internally isolated and sent home for any breach of the uniform code as well as serious offences.

However, the banned activities include many self-stimulatory behaviours used by people on the autism spectrum to cope when under stress, and would be considered reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010.

The trust insists this is their legal right, no extra support is being provided for the students in spite of a warning that this type of zero tolerance creates child mental health problems, and violence against teachers.