Editor’s view - Academies, academies, everywhere
Monday, March 21, 2016
For years, we have been creeping towards academisation of the state school system until – boom – Chancellor George Osborne used his Budget to announce that all schools would be made to become academies.
It’s a seismic change to education in England, and it could be argued that it is based more on ideology than evidence.
Although the Government repeats the mantra that turning schools into academies has raised standards, this does not seem apparent – some are better, some worse, and Sir Michael Wilshaw has criticised the performance of some academy chains in particular.
The White Paper on reform, Educational Excellence Everywhere, says that academies fit with the Government’s ‘devolution agenda’, but the changes will leave local authorities in a very difficult position. Their duty will be to ensure every child has a school place, ensure the needs of vulnerable children are met, and to ‘act as champions’ for all parents and families.
All this without the ability to be involved in planning school places in their area, or the budget to provide a proper support service, while having to negotiate with various ‘Multi Agency Trusts’.
Meanwhile, the remaining state nursery schools will be even less sure of their future in this brave new world if they stay as a small rump under council control, unable to act as academies do.
And what of lobbying to give Early Years Teachers QTS? The White Paper says that QTS will be eradicated and replaced by a more rigorous, headteacher-sanctioned accreditation. Is that better for EYTs or worse? Answers on a postcard please!
