LeMarchand Posted March 2, 2016 Posted March 2, 2016 We provide services at no profit, or gain. We aim to give the best advice possible. A business would be looking 'make money' from the school. Does "we" mean your MAT?
sippo Posted March 2, 2016 Posted March 2, 2016 Yes. Internal IT Services. We have all our services, such as phones, broadband, SIMs etc, at each site with the same provider ie. Scomis provides SIMs. This saves us money as we have more buying power. 8 schools are better than 1.
LeMarchand Posted March 2, 2016 Posted March 2, 2016 Yes. Internal IT Services. So you are presumably allocated resources and pay from the MAT's funds - I'm guessing you don't work for free! How is that different from when LEA's used to support schools? Pretty sure the average LEA had more than 8 schools to leverage buying power for (if they had had competent staff!). Maybe, at present, everyone at every MAT/Academy is running things for the sake of educating children (rather than making money). How long will that last once everything is "privatised"? Do you honestly think that MAT leaders will think that they're "doing for the kids"? Do the execs at private prison services and rail companies think that they're providing a service and accept an "average" wage (£25k ish) or do they pay themselves as much as they can possibly get away with whilst cutting costs and services to the bare minimum? Why will education be spared such ravages once it's a free for all?
GrumbleDook Posted March 2, 2016 Posted March 2, 2016 Strangely enough, when I was at the LA we *did* do it for free (as far as schools are concerned). My costs came out of general funds, so not even the LA top slicing of education money. We gave free advice, additional training and support, eSafety advice, managed the RBC stuff ... and we got cut because schools didn't need us. Go figure.
mthomas08 Posted March 2, 2016 Posted March 2, 2016 Yes. Internal IT Services. We have all our services, such as phones, broadband, SIMs etc, at each site with the same provider ie. Scomis provides SIMs. This saves us money as we have more buying power. 8 schools are better than 1. I'd also like to know who is in charge of these individually run Schools, what money they are on and how much the "High End" management who run the MAT are on too. How many Staff were made redundant as a result of "Cuts" and how many promotions, pay rises and new positions that were made as a result. Plus the difference on Staff costs before/after. Just to chuck the cat amongst the pigeons.
localzuk Posted March 2, 2016 Posted March 2, 2016 I'd also like to know who is in charge of these individually run Schools, what money they are on and how much the "High End" management who run the MAT are on too. How many Staff were made redundant as a result of "Cuts" and how many promotions, pay rises and new positions that were made as a result. Plus the difference on Staff costs before/after. Just to chuck the cat amongst the pigeons. I believe nearly all of that should be available in the audited yearly accounts for each trust.
GrumbleDook Posted March 2, 2016 Posted March 2, 2016 I believe nearly all of that should be available in the audited yearly accounts for each trust. They are, and publications like Schools Weekly do look into it.
mrbios Posted March 4, 2016 Posted March 4, 2016 I've not gone through the whole becoming an academy thing yet, so i don't really know what happens, but are the MATs mainly made up of one large and multiple small schools, or can they be any combination of secondaries and primaries? What generally happens to the IT teams in the larger schools? Taken over? Combine with others? Stay as they are and manage the smaller schools in addition to current work? I'm guessing it varies from MAT to MAT, but now that there's finally talk our end I'm getting concerned
localzuk Posted March 4, 2016 Posted March 4, 2016 They can be any combination of schools. Ours is going to be a couple of small/medium middle schools, a handful of first schools and a nursery or 2. Total number of pupils at start will be around 1500. IT really varies between MATs. Some go all out centralising. Some outsource. Some leave things how they are.
LeMarchand Posted March 4, 2016 Posted March 4, 2016 I'm guessing it varies from MAT to MAT, but now that there's finally talk our end I'm getting concerned It does! I know a local one where it's roughly similar primaries. My experience was bad, but many on here have good tales of their conversion. I still object to the whole idea on an ideological basis, though.
dblight Posted March 4, 2016 Posted March 4, 2016 Yes it varies. Our existing MAT has 2 secondaries and 4 primaries. If the suggested merger takes place in September it will be 6 secondaries and 11 primaries. In our current MAT we have centralised IT, Finance etc etc. We are yet to find out what will happen if/when all 3 MATS merge as one.
mrbios Posted March 4, 2016 Posted March 4, 2016 Guess i'll just have to wait and see what happens in that case! We're the largest school in the district in terms of quantity of pupils as far as I'm aware, so i'd imagine we would be a likely candidate for a central location, but i guess it's all going to depend on who else is in the MAT. Are MATs generally made up of local schools close to each other, or can you get schools miles apart within the same MAT too?
localzuk Posted March 4, 2016 Posted March 4, 2016 Guess i'll just have to wait and see what happens in that case! We're the largest school in the district in terms of quantity of pupils as far as I'm aware, so i'd imagine we would be a likely candidate for a central location, but i guess it's all going to depend on who else is in the MAT. Are MATs generally made up of local schools close to each other, or can you get schools miles apart within the same MAT too? Most MATs seem to be groups of local schools, but there are a number of MATs which are formed on common values, or on a common purpose (eg. science focused etc...). Some are national. One thing about the process - there is a *lot* of waiting. A lot, lot, lot.
dblight Posted March 4, 2016 Posted March 4, 2016 Ours is within about 20 mile circle but that will stretch out to about 50-60 when we merge
BassTech Posted March 4, 2016 Posted March 4, 2016 We're also going to a MAT - We've been assured that nothing will change, but I find that hard to believe to be honest. First time in 7 years I've been concerned for my job. Troubling times ahead
mthomas08 Posted March 7, 2016 Posted March 7, 2016 We're also going to a MAT - We've been assured that nothing will change, but I find that hard to believe to be honest. First time in 7 years I've been concerned for my job. Troubling times ahead That one line seems to be the consistent message, not to protect you but to protect the School. Worst thing possible for them is a good % of you hand in your notice. I can say this, what I and many others experienced if we had been told the truth there would have been lots of paper work being handed in. It would be extremely bad press if the School had to shut down due to Staff levels and why. If I was you, I'd be concerned but I'm sure some one will mention "New Opportunities" for you..
elsiegee40 Posted March 15, 2016 Posted March 15, 2016 Here we go: A definite announcement seems likely Every school to become an academy, ministers to announce - BBC News
LeMarchand Posted March 15, 2016 Posted March 15, 2016 Here we go: A definite announcement seems likely Every school to become an academy, ministers to announce - BBC News This makes the kittens sad.
sparkeh Posted March 15, 2016 Posted March 15, 2016 The section about LAs setting up their own chains is interesting. In effect we could end up leaving a LA to rejoin it under a different status. Wonder if it's a concession so that the government can happily claim that all schools are converted but those schools wanting to stay with the LA can. Politics eh?
zag Posted March 16, 2016 Posted March 16, 2016 I think its more about letting LEA's concentrate on local government, not education.
sparkeh Posted March 16, 2016 Posted March 16, 2016 I think its more about letting LEA's concentrate on local government, not education. Be interesting situation though wouldn't it. If LAs setup trusts and schools joined them.
mthomas08 Posted March 16, 2016 Posted March 16, 2016 (edited) Not quite Academy but as always it's a starting point.... Excuse the fact its the DM, looks like George wants Schools to keep Students for another hour. George Osborne to turn all schools into academies in education system shake-up | Daily Mail Online Wonder how many of us will be expected to change hours instead of getting paid "Overtime". Edited March 16, 2016 by mthomas08
elsiegee40 Posted March 16, 2016 Posted March 16, 2016 Not quite Academy but as always it's a starting point.... Excuse the fact its the DM, looks like George wants Schools to keep Students for another hour. George Osborne to turn all schools into academies in education system shake-up | Daily Mail Online Wonder how many of us will be expected to change hours instead of getting paid "Overtime". See post 67 above for BBC version
zag Posted March 16, 2016 Posted March 16, 2016 Be interesting situation though wouldn't it. If LAs setup trusts and schools joined them. Yes if they have the skills, and the experience to do this then I think its a great idea. Being a free market doesn't mean blocking the public sector. It just means making them compete and hopefully that raises everyones game.
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