Budget: Compulsory academies plan slammed

George Osborne set out in today's budget radical plans to force all schools into the academy system by 2022.

In his conference speech last autumn, prime minister David Cameron outlined his ‘vision for our schooling system’ which involved giving headteachers and teachers rather than 'bureaucrats' control of education.

Mr Osborne has also announced the setting aside of £1.5bn, to fund five extra hours’ teaching or activities a week, to lengthen the school day.

Education secretary Nicky Morgan is expected to give more details of the shake-up when she opens the House of Commons budget debate tomorrow.

Roy Perry, chairman of the Local Government Association's children and young people board, said the Government’s argument ‘defies reason’ since 82 per cent of council-maintained schools are Ofsted-rated ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’.

He said they compare favourably with academies, with only 15 per cent of the largest academy chains performing above the national average in terms of progress made by pupils, with some 44 per cent of councils reporting improvement.

Mr Perry added that the moves would strip ‘parents, teachers and faith groups of any local choice’.

He continued, ‘We have serious concerns that regional schools commissioners still lack the capacity and local knowledge to have oversight of such a large, diverse and remote range of schools. 

‘The LGA opposes both forced academisation, and giving significant powers relating to education to unelected civil servants with parents and residents unable to hold them to account at the ballot box.

‘Ofsted has not only identified that improvement in secondary schools – most of which are academies – has stalled, but it has praised strong improvement in primary schools, most of which are maintained.’

Kevin Courtney, deputy general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said the academy trusts system would ‘undo over 50 years of public school education at a stroke’ and make schools ‘unaccountable’ to parents, staff and communities.

Mr Courtney added, ‘Only last week HMCI [Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools] Sir Michael Wilshaw pointed out to Government the serious consequences for children’s education of schools being run by multi-academy trusts. But this arrogant Government is choosing to ignore the evidence from the HMCI, the Education Select Committee and the Sutton Trust’s own Chain Effects report, which clearly demonstrates that academy status not only does not result in higher attainment but that many chains are badly failing their pupils, particularly their disadvantaged pupils.’

He said the NUT would resist what he said was ‘the Government’s ultimate agenda is the privatisation of education with schools run for profit.’

Deborah Lawson, general secretary of education professionals union Voice, described the moves as a ‘bureaucratic distraction’ from the ‘real challenges’ facing the profession.

Ms Lawson said, ‘The Government’s ideological obsession with forced academisation is an unnecessary and bureaucratic distraction from the real challenges facing schools – recruiting and retaining staff, workload, curriculum and assessment overload, rising costs and eroding budgets – and from providing quality education.’

She warned that many schools could be ‘overwhelmed’ by the conversion process and added, ‘Cut adrift from the support of local authorities, primary heads will face a massive administrative burden on top of their current heavy workload at a time of upheaval in the curriculum and assessment. Children’s education could suffer as a result.’

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers said, ‘This is an ideological step too far and not in the interests of children or their parents. It will mean parents will have no say in the running of their child’s school or the quality of the education it provides.

‘It is hard to see how the Government’s plans will work when there aren’t enough high quality multi-academy trusts to cope with thousands more schools and some trusts are performing as poorly as the worst local authorities according to Sir Michael Wilshaw.’

Lucy Powell MP, Labour’s shadow secretary of state for education, said, today’s announcements would do ‘nothing to address’ a string of issues in schools such as a ‘real terms cut of 8 per cent per pupil for the first time since the mid 1990s’.

She said, ‘The Tory record on education is one of a teacher shortage crisis, a school places system which is broken, a widening attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers, and exams and assessments in schools in chaos.

‘There is no evidence to suggest that academisation in and of itself leads to school improvement.

‘In some parts of the country where standards remain a concern, all schools are already academies, yet the government has no other school improvement strategy.

'Failure exists in both school types, just as excellence does. It’s about time the government came forward with a comprehensive plan for school improvement for all children, in all schools up and down the country, and a serious strategy for raising standards for the next generation.’

Meanwhile, Neil Carmichael MP, chair of the Education Committee, which this week launched an inquiry into multi-academy trusts, said the Government would face 'significant' challenges in implementing the plans.

'Some academies are delivering great results for their pupils but in progressing to a fully academised system we must ensure all schools are properly held to account for their performance. 

'Multi-Academy Trusts already play a substantial role in our education system and they will be increasingly important as all state schools move to becoming academies. MATs currently receive little scrutiny and in our inquiry we are determined to examine their performance, accountability, and governance.

'The Government will face significant challenges in implementing these proposals. The drive to change school structures will pose particular issues for primary schools, where only around 15 per cent are currently academies. As a committee we look forward to examining the full details of these proposals.'

Business rates

Meanwhile, a cut to Business Rates was expected to benefit the childcare sector, as nursery owners with properties with rateable values under £15,000 will not have to pay.

Courteney Donaldson, head of childcare at specialist business property adviser Christie & Co, said, ‘We welcome the Chancellor's announcement in relation to the proposed changes to Business Rates and that the small business rates relief threshold will rise from £6,000 to £15,000.

‘This announcement means that for day nursery owners, those that trade from properties with rateable values of less that £15,000 will receive 100 per cent relief, which means that nursery owners of such settings will not be required to pay business rates.’

Ms Donaldson added that the 30-hours extension could also lead to sector growth due to the increased demand, if ‘adequate free entitlement funding’ were provided.

Sugar levy

The Chancellor also unveiled plans for a sugar levy on soft drinks to start in 2018. This is expected to raise £520m to support school sport and breakfast clubs.