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NEWS


NEW

ACADEMIES AND FREE SCHOOLS UPDATE

(Logo: Championing Education)

The NASUWT is continuing to campaign, as part of its Championing Education campaign, against the Coalition Government’s plans for new academies and free schools. Teaching Today takes a look at the latest developments

Only a ‘handful’ convert

The start of the new school year saw just a handful of schools converting to the new academy status following the passage of the Academies Act.

Despite the unacceptable tactics to seek to tempt schools into becoming academies and repeated claims by the Secretary of State for Education of widespread interest in academy status, only 32 schools converted in September, demonstrating scepticism among governors, headteachers and parents for the Coalition’s plans.

Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, welcomed the decision by the vast majority of schools to reject the academies offer.

She said: “Education is a public service. Schools are held and managed in trust for parents and the public.

“The idea that a handful of governors or an individual headteacher can make such a serious and irreversible decision to convert without having consulted fully with staff, parents and the local community will shock all right-minded people.”

Ministers have sought to claim that it is misinformation being spread by trade unions that has resulted in a lower than expected level of academy take-up. However, the NASUWT believes that schools have realised that exaggerated promises of extra funding and greater ‘freedom’ are smoke and mirrors and no guarantee of higher educational standards.

National Audit Office Report

The findings of a recent report by the National Audit Office (NAO) into academies confirms that they represent poor value for money and do little to raise educational attainment. Researchers found that a quarter of academy schools needed additional financial support and that pupils from socially deprived backgrounds tended to fare less well in academies than in other state schools.

Liberal Democrats reject academies

The NASUWT welcomed the motion opposing academies and free schools passed at the Liberal Democrat Conference, but was dismayed that Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg seemingly pledged to ignore the will of his Party and press ahead with the programme.

Ms Keates said: “It is clear that the Liberal Democrats want the policy changes. “What happens next will determine whether the Liberal Democrats in Parliament have the influence they claim.”

Resources

A wealth of practical resources has been created by the NASUWT to assist members in opposing any plans for new academy schools in their area.

A model resolution for governors affirming the school’s commitment to state education and further information on the realities of conversion to academy status has been produced, along with advice for parents and a model petition designed to seek community support.

Free schools

The NASUWT has also expressed serious concerns about the Government’s free schools programme.

Free schools may be set up by a wide range of proposers, including charities, universities, businesses, educational groups, teachers and groups of parents, in response to parental demand. The Department for Education (DfE) claims that the programme will improve choice and drive up standards for all young people, regardless of their background.

The DfE says that free schools will provide an inclusive education to young people of all abilities, from all backgrounds, and will be clearly accountable for the outcomes they deliver.

The schools will have placed upon them the same legal requirements as the new academies and have comparable freedoms, flexibilities and funding arrangements.

In September 2010, the Secretary of State for Education, published a list of the first 16 free schools proposed to be established in September 2011.

There is no evidence of public clamour for free schools or for the involvement of more providers of schools in the state sector. Research conducted by Ipsos MORI in 2010 found that 96% of the public were not supportive of the concept of parent-led [free] schools.

The NASUWT has also drawn attention to the fact that there is no requirement on proposers of free schools to conduct a public consultation when there is an intention to establish a free school.

This exemplifies a significant democratic deficit in the Coalition Government’s academy and free school provisions. Local communities, local authorities and parents are therefore disenfranchised and their involvement is subject to the ‘grace and favour’ of the proposer.

The Union has also warned that free schools herald the prospect of private sector providers running a significant number of such schools, diverting scarce public resources away from staff and learners and into the pockets of educational corporations and their shareholders.

All the resources and the latest updates on academies and free schools are available on the NASUWT’s Championing Education web page.

Go online: www.nasuwt.org.uk/ChampioningEducation