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NEWS


CHAMPIONING STATE EDUCATION

Academies and free schools – update


(Logo: Championing Education)


Funding myth – busted

Despite the widespread scepticism of the profession, as demonstrated by the tiny number of schools that have applied to convert to academy status, the Coalition Government is seeking to press ahead with its plans to establish more new academy and free schools.

The Secretary of State has now invited all schools in England to apply for academy status, by encouraging the highest performing schools to team up with those with lower performance. Previously, only schools graded ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted were asked to apply.

The NASUWT believes that many schools have seen through the Coalition’s false promises of extra funding for those that convert and that the low take-up reflects the profession’s desire to remain within a democratically accountable state education system.

“The savage cuts to school funding announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review and the recent news that the Coalition Government intends to introduce a single national funding formula for all schools have now put paid to any idea that schools will gain financially by becoming academies,” Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said.

She added, “Wise school leaders and governing bodies recognise that in these uncertain times it would be foolish to take the profound and irreversible decision to sever any link with a local authority and put their schools at the mercy of a remote, national, democratically unaccountable funding quango.”


Making a stand

NASUWT members are making a stand to fight against plans to establish new academy schools.

Ballots are taking place at schools in Derbyshire and Lancashire, which are being threatened with conversion to academy status.

Members at The Long Eaton School in Derbyshire have been balloted over the plans by the governing body to apply for academy status.

The NASUWT has also launched a public campaign against the proposal, urging parents, former pupils and members of the community to write to the governing body urging them to rethink its plans.

The Union is deeply concerned at the speed with which governors are seeking to move to academy status and has called for a ballot of parents and staff on the decision to convert.

The school is among those graded ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted that have been encouraged by the Government to convert to academy status. The NASUWT has urged governors not to jeopardise the excellent standards being achieved by the school by rushing into becoming an academy. A wealth of research has confirmed that academic standards in academy schools are no higher than in any other schools.

Democratic accountability will be lost if conversion goes ahead, the Union has warned, along with those services provided to the school by the local authority. Parental influence is also likely to be weakened, the NASUWT has told governors, as academy trusts tend to transfer much of the decision-making power into their hands. The threat to teachers’ jobs, pay and working conditions is the major concern at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School in Lancashire, where NASUWT members are also being balloted for action.


Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said: “It is clear that there is a groundswell of opposition among teachers and the wider public to the Government’s plans, which amount to little more than a blueprint for the destruction of state education.

“These courageous members are taking a stand to protect their jobs, democratic accountability and a broad and balanced education for our young people that is free from the influence of interest groups and big business.

“I have no doubt that if other governing bodies seek academy conversion, many more members will stand up and take action.”


Local Schools Network – sign up

A new campaigning group has been established to champion and defend state education.

Fiona Millar, a leading educationalist and writer, has set up the Local Schools Network. The group exists to counter the work of the New Schools Network, which has been established with funding from the Coalition Government to promote academies and free schools.

The Local Schools Network brings together teachers, governors, parents and the community who are pro-state schools.

The NASUWT is supporting the Network and is encouraging all members, along with their colleagues, family and friends, to do the same.

For more information and to sign up, visit Local Schools Network at www.localschoolsnetwork.org.uk.


For the latest updates on the academies and free schools programme visit the Championing Education web page at www.nasuwt.org.uk/championingeducation