academies academies
Seeking out a sponsor
One of the distinguishing
checks are carried out and the sponsor and local elsewhere, in February, academy sponsorship hit the forgiven for wondering how pupil progress would
authority will agree to develop a formal expression of headlines after it was claimed that a private school that be assessed and where meditation would go in the
features of an academy is
Interest. At this point, the osc passes the project to the specialises in transcendental meditation was planning curriculum. If there is any mediation to be done, it is
dcsF new projects Unit. to sponsor two academies. The reports suggested that by government on whether a modern and inclusive
sponsorship. Here we look
The expression of Interest document will outline all pupils in the schools would be education system has room for a school on these lines
the proposed focus for the academy, including its ethos, expected to meditate twice a day and whether tax-payers should fund it”.
specialism, size and age range of pupils. in a bid to “reach inner peace”.
at what role the sponsor
once the expression of Interest is signed off by the chris Keates, nAsUWT
Further information
sponsors, and if relevant the local authority, it is then union general secretary, www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/academies/
plays, what it aims to
submitted to the dcsF for approval. When approved, said that involvement in
funds are released by the dcsF to explore feasibility transcendental meditation
achieve, and some of the
in more detail. should be a matter of
At the feasibility stage, a project steering Group personal choice, adding
(psG) is established, chaired by the sponsor. that some people are
concerns that have been
A project management company then becomes highly critical of the
responsible for the delivery of the education and process.
raised. Chris Parr reports
governance of the academy, which then oversees the she said:
delivery of the academy on a day-to-day basis through “ Te a c h e r s
the psG. might be
AcAdemy sponsors come from a wide The relevant legal framework relating to academies
range of backgrounds and include philanthropists, is given practical effect through a contractual document
high-performing schools and colleges, universities, called a Funding Agreement. This is the key legal
businesses, voluntary sector organisations, and the document in the creation of an academy which forms
community. part of a legally binding relationship between the dcsF
According to the department for children, schools and the academy’s sponsor.
and Families (dcsF), the academy sponsor is there The Funding Agreement is the means by which the
to “challenge traditional thinking on how schools are government can exercise control over the academy,
run and what they should be like for students, and and a means whereby the academy is held accountable
seek to make a complete break with cultures of low directly to the secretary of state.
aspiration which afflict too many communities and After appropriate negotiation and legal advice, the
their schools”. secretary of state will approve and sign the Funding
on establishing an academy, the sponsor sets up an Agreement, as will the sponsor. At this point, the
endowment fund, the proceeds of which are spent by Academy Trust is established as a legal entity.
the Academy Trust on measures designed to counteract
the impact of deprivation on education in their local
Controversy
communities. The way in which sponsors are selected has been the
A recently published report into the academies focus of concern expressed in the media, by local
programme has shown that while initially sponsors communities, and by the teaching unions.
tended to be White, male businessmen, today sponsors philip parkin, general secretary of the Voice union,
are more likely to consist of groups of universities and told SecEd: “We are concerned about the influence and
educational trusts and charities. control that sponsors have over academies. providing
some sponsors are involved in more than one high quality education and care may not be their
academy, and local authorities may also be the co- overwhelming priority, as they may well have political,
sponsor of an academy. religious or profit motivations.”
A recent high-profile case involved the London
Establishing sponsorship
Borough of camden. Towards the end of 2008, local
Legally, sponsors are required to approach the office of parents won a judicial review against the way the
the schools’ commissioner (osc) if they are interested local council and secretary of state had appointed the
in sponsoring an academy. University college, London, as a sponsor for the swiss
The osc then works with the sponsor, partnership cottage Academy.
for schools – the agency that delivers Building schools The parents labelled the decision a “backroom deal”
for the Future – and local authorities, to identify and argued for an overhaul in the way that sponsors
potential academy opportunities. are chosen, including arguing that the selection process
once a suitable project has been found, due diligence should be more transparent.
Election countdown
More Choice. More Opportunity
Here in Hertfordshire, we are home to an
innovations pioneered in the best schools will be
deployed to drive up standards in the poorest.”
exceptional range of schools - from small
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal democrats announced this year that, should
they come to power, the academies programme as we
village primaries to large secondaries.
know it would be restructured.
Academies would be replaced with a devolved
We also offer superb induction and CPD.
model of “sponsor-managed schools”, which would
be under the strategic oversight of local authorities,
not Whitehall. Within this very supportive environment,
Local authorities would select sponsors, and
would be able to limit the time period of any
sponsorship to a set period.
you will have every opportunity to
Under the plans, an independent and non-
political agency, called the educational standards
establish and develop your career.
Authority, would be set up to take the lead in
overseeing local authorities in their role.
david Laws, Liberal democrat education
spokesman, told SecEd: “parts of the media
For more information about opportunities in
have announced that we are axing the whole
academy programme and replacing it, which
Hertfordshire Schools, log on and apply at
is not strictly true.
“The freedom to innovate, which is a
hallmark of academies, should be extended
www.teachinherts.com
to all schools, and we also believe that there
is expertise in the business and charity sectors
that should be brought into schools. Tel: 01438 844871
“It’s absurd to try and run a programme
like academies from Westminster, and
Email: teachinherts.hdc@hertscc.gov.uk
although we want schools to enjoy the
freedoms experienced by many academies, Hertfordshire is committed to the protection and safety of children and young people.
we want this process to be overseen by local
authorities.”
mr Laws said the party was not putting an
“arbitrary figure” on the number of sponsor-
managed schools it wants to see open.
SecEd • July 9 2009 19
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24