BSF and Academy Schools

[e_g_r]

Simple question I think but will BSF and the whole outsourcing of IT support effect Academy Schools or will their special status mean that they do their own thing?

[russdev]

no don't think they are as such as staff are employed by the school/trust etc and not ran by lea.

 

Russ

[broc]

Simple questions are always the hardest to answer.....

 

My personal opinion:

 

Existing Academies that are up & running will be able to control their own destiny and will be able to operate outside the managed service environment.

Academies in the process of being built will probably be ok too.

 

Those academies still under debate I am not so sure, I suspect it will be a battle of wills between those with a strong vested interest and the outcome will depend upon who wins the debate/pulls the strings in high places.

 

As an aside, in theory any school can put together a business case to seek BSF ICT funding direct from DfES and bypass Partnership for Schools & managed services. As far as I am aware, not many schools have done this but it may be that those academies that have strong sponsors (perhaps with a vested interest in ICT) could be in a position to seek funding directly and manage their own ICT provision?

[GrumbleDook]

I believe this is what Parrs Wood in Manchester have done / are doing ... I will be speaking to people on Wednesday about this aspect of ICT outsourcing.

[Tempest]

I'm currently working at a school which has been approached about becoming a rural academy - I've been assured that there will be no job losses and all services will remain under the schools control....of course, that doesn't stop the school purchasing a managed service.......

[Kyle]

What about trust schools? are affected by BSF

[e_g_r]

So what will happen in this situation?

 

Oldham are closeing 9 schools and building 7 new ones. 2 acaemies are being built and 4 of the old schools merged.

 

Will the IT be out sourced because they are new builds or will they be safe.

[Grommit]

In our area all the Academies are being Outsourced (old and new).....

 

If they want the BSF funding they have to accept the Managed Services for 5 years... and the staff will be downgraded and TUPE'd

[Oops_my_bad]

What about Specialist Schools and Sixth form colleges?