Academies agenda gathering momentum again?

[Andrew_C]

You cynic you... Not saying being a cynic is wrong though, just a balanced reaction to the politics of the day.

[sparkeh]

Interesting glimpse of what the Government's idea of "Educational Excellence Everywhere" means in reality: How can a whole borough have no A-levels?

[LeMarchand]

Interesting glimpse of what the Government's idea of "Educational Excellence Everywhere" means in reality: How can a whole borough have no A-levels?

 

I'd like to know why the LA schools aren't providing A Level options. Surely they should have a duty to provide at least one school that does? That said, this sums up the future of education under the new privatised academy school regime:

 

The academy says that its current sixth form is financially unviable.

[localzuk]

Interesting glimpse of what the Government's idea of "Educational Excellence Everywhere" means in reality: How can a whole borough have no A-levels?

 

Our area is very much heading the same direction. In our district (726.8 km2 in size), we have a single secondary school, which is progressively winding down its sixth-form, and outsourcing it to the college that sponsors their academy status. It means a 25 mile trip for students for many courses...

[mthomas08]

The only real good idea in there is that new formula of funding direct to schools.

 

And this is it, the answer isn't just mine either it comes direct from our Business Manager. It effectively cuts out the middle man and allows the School to do what they choose instead of dictation from the LEA.

 

That really is it, but why force Schools to do it? Why does it need to become the norm?

 

Then again asking the Government to prove why we should or shouldn't do something has always been the problem. When they lack facts we get fed propaganda and are simply told "It's better"...... Bit like the EU in or out argument. Then the parties argue with each other like School children, not because they believe they are right but because they don't like agreeing with the other party...

Edited April 20, 2016 by mthomas08

[Andrew_C]

the Government's idea of

market driven education. If it doesn't pay, scrap it.

[sparkeh]

So very interesting PMQs today.

 

Corbyn used all his questions to press Cameron on forced academisation. Things to note:

• Cameron saying that they will press ahead with every school becoming an academy
  
• Nicky Morgan looking like a rabbit in the headlights
  
• Rows and rows of uncomfortable looking Tory MPs muttering after every answer
  
• The change of tack to talking exclusively about schools becoming academies and running themselves without bureaucrats interfering (and no discussion about MATs).
  

 

I wonder if the MAT requirement will be dropped to try and win a bit more support?

[localzuk]

I found the blantant lies to be interesting.

 

Eg. That they've protected pupil spending. They really haven't. Unfunded pay rises, increases is employer NI contributions and the like mean the funds available for pupil spending have decreased. Every school knows this.

 

Or, that academisation puts control in the hands of headteachers and teachers. It doesn't when the preferred mechanism for academisation is MATs, which are run outside of the schools they control, meaning headteachers and teachers in those schools lose more control than ever over their schools.

[Ephelyon]

I found this bit in particular from another BBC article to be rather telling:

 

Where she is on far trickier ground is when putting forward evidence to make her case for the wholesale shift to academies.

Nicky Morgan said again that more children are in good schools as a result of the academy policy.

She didn't mention that only outstanding schools were encouraged to volunteer during the last parliament.

Many did in return for getting their hands on some of the cash that would normally go to councils for support services.

[sparkeh]

Of course this all needs to be framed in the context of the fallout from the EU vote. The chances of Cameron being at the helm afterwards seem to be narrowing.

[Andrew_C]

From Michel Rosen's blog,read point 4 if nothing else! See how far down "improve teaching" is? And how about "Investment"?

 

 

"This paper presents the findings from a study by The Centre for High-Performance (a collaboration between senior faculty at the Universities of Oxford and Kingston) of the changes made by 160 academies after OfSTED put them into 'special measures' up to seven years ago.

 

Learnings for academies

The findings suggest academies should make eight changes in the following order:

1. Leadership and objectives - appoint new leaders and narrow objectives

2. Market perception - rebrand school and communicate change

3. Resources - expand service offering and improve admissions

4. Student quality - exclude poor quality students, improve admissions and acquire a local primary school

5. Structures - centralise activities and improve facilities

6. Process stability - improve student attendance and behaviour

7. Process capability - improve teaching capability

8. Systems - introduce performance development systems

Edited April 20, 2016 by Andrew_C

[LeMarchand]

From Michel Rosen's blog,read point 4 if nothing else! See how far down "improve teaching" is? And how about "Investment"?

 

Skimmed the report. Page 10 raised my eyebrows at the highlighted points. Which they'd start on the one I circled immediately, though.

 

[sted]

change type of pupl entering the school are going to end up having a 4+ test where less academic kids cant get a place in a primary school?

[mthomas08]

I found the blantant lies to be interesting.

Or, that academisation puts control in the hands of headteachers and teachers. It doesn't when the preferred mechanism for academisation is MATs, which are run outside of the schools they control, meaning headteachers and teachers in those schools lose more control than ever over their schools.

 

Although yes, a School doesn't have to join a MAT unless dire circumstances or they voluntarily join. Don't think the Head can complain too much if they lose control, even if it is done through cloak and dagger style which I have witnessed.

 

As long as a School is financially secure and in a good place with Student intake/results/Ofsted etc, like we are. You don't have to consider joining a MAT.

 

Would also add, although the Gov say things like "they have protected the Student fund income Schools get" what they failed to mention (typical Politicians) is that the XX amount is only the same due to the increase amount of Students enrolled. This was mentioned when Schools had to keep on Students who don't find employment/training etc.

 

Typical Politicians really. It's why I can't stand them, they twist and turn things. You point out the negative and they refuse to talk about that instead look at the positives. If you ignore the negatives in anything you are living in cloud cuckoo land.

 

Then again they are politicians. Sometimes I wish they did our job.

 

Well forget about your projector not working, look your PC and Interactive Whiteboard still works. I'm not here to discuss that you can't use your IWB because that still works fine. I have the same budget I have from last year, it doesn't matter if I have another 1000 devices to accommodate for come September. That will not be the issue. I will get volunteer Students to maintain all that for me which will cost nothing.

[sparkeh]

Bad news just keeps hitting the plans

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/apr/20/academy-plans-pose-significant-risk-government-finances

[sparkeh]

Well according to the FT the plans have been kicked into the long grass

Another day, another policy slide. As reported in Thursday’s Financial Times, the brakes are being applied on one of the major announcements from March’s Budget: the proposal to force all British schools to become academies. Instead of putting forward legislation in the coming weeks or months to force the academisation of state schools, the proposals have been kicked into the long grass and will be introduced closer to 2020, if at all.

 

There are several reasons why the government has ended up in this embarrassing situation. First, it is yet another demonstration of how focused No 10 is on the EU referendum campaign.

 

Fighting for a Remain vote has consumed the strategy and media arms of the Downing Street operation. Introducing such a major policy one month before the referendum campaign began meant it was never going to get the attention needed to see it through.

 

The policy was a key announcement in George Osborne’s most difficult Budget, designed to distract attention from poor growth figures. We can assume that the Treasury played at least some role in developing it. At first, it looked as if this would be a successful strategy but, as the row over the cuts to disability benefits intensified, the academisation plans fell by the wayside.

 

The role of Nicky Morgan, the education secretary, is also crucial to understanding why the policy has been delayed. Ms Morgan was brought in to the Department for Education as a calming figure, following the battles fought by her predecessor Michael Gove. She was meant to perform a role similar to Jeremy Hunt’s at the Department of Health, a steady hand on the tiller.

 

Both of them kept the status quo at first, before shaking things up. Both Mr Hunt’s changes to thejunior doctors’ contracts and Ms Morgan’s academisation plans have fallen into a familiar government trap of not thinking things through.

 

Government puts brakes on academies plan

 

[​IMG]

Aide signals delay to legislation that would reform all state schools

 

The academies policy marked a radical shift and ended up in another confrontation that the government does not need right now. To see through a policy of this nature, Ms Morgan would have required the political support of the prime minister and chancellor. They have been distracted by other political matters of late.

 

This episode offers another window on David Cameron’s relationship with his backbenchers. The disgruntlement of Tory MPs over the EU referendum has created considerable bad feeling and there is little goodwill available to help sell a tricky education policy.

 

Many MPs were worried about the proposals and the intervention from a great reforming education secretary of the past, Lord Baker, only made matters worse. Messrs Cameron and Osborne can look forward to tackling these issues of trust and co-operation on the other side of the referendum vote, if they survive.

[sparkeh]

Could the policy be dead in the water? http://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/apr/23/tory-mps-call-for-academies-plan-dropped-from-queens-speech

 

Interesting that the DfE won't confirm that it will be in the Queens Speech.

Edited April 23, 2016 by sparkeh

[sparkeh]

As predicted, the Government is considering easing the way for LA to set up MATs: Ministers could ease way for councils to run academies - BBC News

 

This is rapidly becoming a farce!

[localzuk]

As predicted, the Government is considering easing the way for LA to set up MATs: Ministers could ease way for councils to run academies - BBC News

 

This is rapidly becoming a farce!

 

It makes little sense - all it'd be is a paperwork exercise, shifting control around a bit, whilst costing the taxpayer a fortune.

[sparkeh]

It makes little sense - all it'd be is a paperwork exercise, shifting control around a bit, whilst costing the taxpayer a fortune.

Of course. But the Government could claim that all schools having been converted, the LAs can claim that they retained their schools and the schools can stick with the LA if they want. No one loses face. That's politics for you.

[LeMarchand]

Of course. But the Government could claim that all schools having been converted, the LAs can claim that they retained their schools and the schools can stick with the LA if they want. No one loses face. That's politics for you.

 

Don't forget that there will be some consultancy fees being claimed, too.

[bobsmith]

It makes little sense - all it'd be is a paperwork exercise, shifting control around a bit, whilst costing the taxpayer a fortune.

 

Nice summary of the entire Academies Program there.

[sted]

Don't forget that there will be some consultancy fees being claimed, too.

and you have to assume lawyers

[PotNoodleTech]

Legal and consultancy fees would probably be 10% of the entire cost. Luckily most of the consultants are already on the board of one or more MATs so they should know exactly what they are doing by now which should save time and money in consultancy fees...

 

.....or will it?

[foofighterjim]

Legal and consultancy fees would probably be 10% of the entire cost. Luckily most of the consultants are already on the board of one or more MATs so they should know exactly what they are doing by now which should save time and money in consultancy fees...

 

.....or will it?

 

I remember BSF; my previous school was in the next wave before it was cancelled (wave 6b, I think). Allegedly £4,000,000 had already been spent on consultancy and planning and not one brick was laid. I doubt much has changed.