ACADEMIES The road to academy


We are all talking about the 1,500-plus schools who have registered to find out more about becoming an academy. Bill Watkin from the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust looks at the process


T


HE GOVERNMENT’S decision to give all the schools the chance to become an academy has caused lively discussions in staffrooms and households across the country and, of course, in the media. This is hardly surprising, as the


decision is an important one for school leaders and governors, many of whom were keen to discover the details and discuss the implications and opportunities academy status presents. The message from the new secretary of state was


clear: all schools, whether primary, special or secondary, should have the opportunity to become academies. The first wave, schools judged by Ofsted to be


“outstanding”, will have their application and conversion process fast-tracked and streamlined. In the autumn, the opportunity will be opened up to other schools and, later in the year, to special schools. The early focus of the rationale for conversion was


presented in the form of four key freedoms for these “converting” academies: freedom from local authority control; the ability to set pay and conditions for staff; freedom from the national curriculum; and the ability to change the lengths of terms and school days. With so many questions surrounding such


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HASMONEAN HIGH SCHOOL HEAD OF GIRLS’ SCHOOL


This is an exceptional career opportunity for an individual with proven track record of success at senior level in secondary education. The post holder is responsible for co-ordinating the leadership of the girls’ school.


Hasmonean High School is a highly successful orthodox Jewish Voluntary Aided school. It is one of the country’s highest performing comprehensive schools.


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Closing date for applications: Friday 9th July, 2010


• Standards of teaching and learning that would make any colleague enthusiastic to join our team.


• Excellent support, training and career development through our highly praised Investor in People programme.


• A friendly, cohesive and supportive staff. • One of the most beautiful rural areas in the country


For an application form and further details please contact Jean Stacey, Principal’s Secretary on 01643 700304 e-mail jmstacey@educ.somerset.gov.uk


SecEd The ONLY weekly voice for secondary education Please phone our friendly staff on 020 7501 6728 14 SecEd • July 1 2010


Cardinal Newman Catholic School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.


an important decision, the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) was keen to provide an opportunity for schools to discuss and debate the initiative, to learn from the thinking, experiences and practices of others, and to be closely involved in evolving policy. A series of events for school leaders and governors


wishing to explore the detail of conversion to academy status was arranged comprising a programme of 18 seminars over four weeks. There were to be two seminars, one primary, one secondary, in each of the nine government regions. All but one of the seminars was held in an open


academy and those attending had the opportunity to hear from existing academy secondary and/or primary principals, from legal experts and from policy experts at the Department for Education (DfE). The Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA),


which has responsibility for funding and monitoring arrangements for academies, was also represented at the seminars. Although the SSAT does not seek to either persuade


or dissuade schools in their considerations, it is committed to providing schools with the opportunity share ideas and have access to policy-makers and practitioners so that they can make the right choice for them and their community. When the travelling roadshow of seminars got


underway in the week after the Queen’s Speech, the policy was in its infancy and there was a level of uncertainty and fluidity which made for more questions than answers. In the course of the last month, much greater clarity


has emerged. Policy has evolved, many questions have been answered and some potential obstacles to conversion have been noted and addressed. There is still a view, however, that the lack of


clear detail about some elements of the funding for academies may prevent governing bodies passing a resolution to become an academy just yet. The publication, on the DfE website, of the ready


reckoner tool should help. With this, schools can search by local authority and can identify the scale of the top slice they might expect to come directly to them and the services they will need to buy in.


The seminars were held immediately after government’s policy was announced to provide schools with the opportunity to debate, contribute to and shape policy as it evolved.


the


Of course, as a result, not all the questions asked could be answered. But


to ask a question was to


identify an issue, to focus attention and to influence the direction of travel. This far outweighed any sense of frustration arising from answers not being available on the day depriving schools of an opportunity to express themselves while arrangements were still under consideration.


The issues raised by schools have had a direct impact on the information published on the DfE website. For example, early in June, it was not possible for an academy to be federated with another school. A number of outstanding schools saw this as an obstacle to conversion. They did not want to defederate in order to convert.


However, the DfE listened to these concerns


and changed the regulations and federated schools can now become academies together and remain federated (even if one of them is not outstanding). Many schools


expressed concerns funding details, about related to both revenue and


capital. The DfE’s ready reckoner has been developed to help address these concerns. Other uncertainties have been identified and are being addressed: CRB checks, governance models, continuity of service and good practice in consultation, to name a few.


one part of


The SSAT programme of seminars is only its approach to working with


schools and stakeholders as they consider the Academies Bill and how proposals might best work in different contexts.


A further wave of seminars is planned for autumn, once the Bill has passed through Parliament. There will also be a conference whose focus will be a discussion about


the responsibilities of academies.


the distinctive freedoms and SecEd


• Bill Watkin is operational director of academy Networks at Trust.


the Specialist Schools and Academies www.sec-ed.com


Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Brighton & Hove, Sussex Humanities Specialist College, Training School Status (N0R 2093: including 373 in the Sixth Form)


Male & Female Teacher of Physical Education TMS (Temporary) Required for September 2010


(Previous applicants need not apply)


The Governors wish to appoint two enthusiastic, committed and well-qualifi ed temporary teachers of P.E.to join our highly successful 11-18 mixed Catholic school. The ability to provide a second subject is highly desirable. The positions are currently temporary owing to a future review of the department’s needs.


Standards in the department are excellent and options at GCSE and A Level continue to thrive. The successful candidate will play an active part in our extensive extra-curricular programme.


Colleagues joining Cardinal Newman are assured of regular support for personal and professional development and a team approach is strongly encouraged. We recently received Training School Status and excellent CPD will be provided.


The closing date for applications has been set for: Monday, 5th July at 10.00am


Details of the post and application forms are available on the school website: www.cncs.co.uk


or through the school reception offi ce reception@cncs.co.uk Tel: 01273 558551


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