Worst primary schools to become academies
I am sure that all of you have seen the latest headlines that the worst 200 primary schools will be forced to become academies – but what does this mean? What is an academy?
I wasn’t sure so I thought that I would do some internet searching on the subject and share my findings.
First the headlines
“The worst 200 primary schools in England are to be forced to turn into academies, the Education Secretary will say today.
Announcing the move, Michael Gove will say that a system in which so many children leave primary school without a good grasp of English and maths "should no longer be tolerated".
Around 1,400 primary schools in England currently have less than 60 per cent of their pupils reaching a basic level in English and Maths at age 11, and children making below average progress between the ages of seven and 11.
These are the basic floor standards that primaries are expected to achieve.
Of these 1,400 primaries, about 500 have been below the floor for two or three of the last four years.
And a further 200 have been below the threshold for the last five years, with 120 of them below the target for more than a decade.
It is these that are expected to be turned into academies - semi-independent state schools that receive their funding directly and have more powers over areas like the curriculum and staff pay and conditions” - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/worst-primary-schools-to-become-academies-2298175.html
So what are the essential freedoms that academy status brings?
Well in a report in 2010 by the BBC relatively few new freedoms and they feel that the changes that parents would see would be minimal
“The list of freedoms gained through academy status includes: freedom to adapt the national curriculum, to vary teachers' pay and conditions, and to vary the length of the school day/week/year.
And….well, that's about it. “ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10187148
So from what I can find out an academy is a state funded independent school – which provides the following freedoms, Freedom from Local Authority Control, Ability to set own pay and conditions for staff, freedom from following the national curriculum, able to change the length of terms and school days and having greater control over the school budget. – Let’s hope that means that they do not make the school day shorter!!!
The school will get 10% more money to spend?
“As with grant maintained schools, academy status brings a cash uplift of 10% or more.
This is the money otherwise held back by town halls for central education services. For a large secondary school that could be £400,000 a year.
Many heads believe they can make better use of that money themselves, even though they may continue to purchase some services from the local authority.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10187148
Because the school is classed as an independent school if it becomes an academy this does not mean that parents will have to pay fees – schools would still be state – funded
A charity trust?
On one school website I found this statement which I thought was interesting?
“An Academy is a Charitable Trust and is therefore entitled to apply for additional funding as a Charity such as the National Lottery and other organisations that support Charities. This could mean more resources and equipment for Students and improved facilities. Upon conversion, the Governors of the school will become Trustees and Directors. There is no maximum number of Directors but at least 2 must be Parents.”
http://www.swakeleys.hillingdon.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/A-summary-for-Swakeleys-parents.pdf
What are the concerns? Well according to Mike Baker of the BBC they include...
“First, going it alone without local authority support will be a big departure for many schools, especially primaries and special schools.
So the big change ahead may, I suspect, be less about the creation of more academies and more about the start of an era of large chains of schools run by academy sponsors or education management firms.
The concern is that local education authorities will be left without the capacity to intervene when cracks appear in local school provision.
If that happens, it may have to be the new school chain managers and sponsors that will have to step into the local authority's shoes.
But unlike local councils, they cannot be turfed out by parents and local voters.
At present town halls and Ofsted can step in if these circumstances arise “ – report written by Mike Baker
Hope this has given a few facts and figures – If you feel that you can add to this Blog I would love to hear your views and any information that you think would be helpful to other parents.
I wasn’t sure so I thought that I would do some internet searching on the subject and share my findings.
First the headlines
“The worst 200 primary schools in England are to be forced to turn into academies, the Education Secretary will say today.
Announcing the move, Michael Gove will say that a system in which so many children leave primary school without a good grasp of English and maths "should no longer be tolerated".
Around 1,400 primary schools in England currently have less than 60 per cent of their pupils reaching a basic level in English and Maths at age 11, and children making below average progress between the ages of seven and 11.
These are the basic floor standards that primaries are expected to achieve.
Of these 1,400 primaries, about 500 have been below the floor for two or three of the last four years.
And a further 200 have been below the threshold for the last five years, with 120 of them below the target for more than a decade.
It is these that are expected to be turned into academies - semi-independent state schools that receive their funding directly and have more powers over areas like the curriculum and staff pay and conditions” - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/worst-primary-schools-to-become-academies-2298175.html
So what are the essential freedoms that academy status brings?
Well in a report in 2010 by the BBC relatively few new freedoms and they feel that the changes that parents would see would be minimal
“The list of freedoms gained through academy status includes: freedom to adapt the national curriculum, to vary teachers' pay and conditions, and to vary the length of the school day/week/year.
And….well, that's about it. “ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10187148
So from what I can find out an academy is a state funded independent school – which provides the following freedoms, Freedom from Local Authority Control, Ability to set own pay and conditions for staff, freedom from following the national curriculum, able to change the length of terms and school days and having greater control over the school budget. – Let’s hope that means that they do not make the school day shorter!!!
The school will get 10% more money to spend?
“As with grant maintained schools, academy status brings a cash uplift of 10% or more.
This is the money otherwise held back by town halls for central education services. For a large secondary school that could be £400,000 a year.
Many heads believe they can make better use of that money themselves, even though they may continue to purchase some services from the local authority.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10187148
Because the school is classed as an independent school if it becomes an academy this does not mean that parents will have to pay fees – schools would still be state – funded
A charity trust?
On one school website I found this statement which I thought was interesting?
“An Academy is a Charitable Trust and is therefore entitled to apply for additional funding as a Charity such as the National Lottery and other organisations that support Charities. This could mean more resources and equipment for Students and improved facilities. Upon conversion, the Governors of the school will become Trustees and Directors. There is no maximum number of Directors but at least 2 must be Parents.”
http://www.swakeleys.hillingdon.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/A-summary-for-Swakeleys-parents.pdf
What are the concerns? Well according to Mike Baker of the BBC they include...
“First, going it alone without local authority support will be a big departure for many schools, especially primaries and special schools.
So the big change ahead may, I suspect, be less about the creation of more academies and more about the start of an era of large chains of schools run by academy sponsors or education management firms.
The concern is that local education authorities will be left without the capacity to intervene when cracks appear in local school provision.
If that happens, it may have to be the new school chain managers and sponsors that will have to step into the local authority's shoes.
But unlike local councils, they cannot be turfed out by parents and local voters.
At present town halls and Ofsted can step in if these circumstances arise “ – report written by Mike Baker
Hope this has given a few facts and figures – If you feel that you can add to this Blog I would love to hear your views and any information that you think would be helpful to other parents.
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