Anti Academies Alliance

“Unfortunately the Department cannot disclose the names of underperforming primary schools”

AAA office — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:41:25 +0000

Last week the BBC reported that they had a list of the schools that the DfE had targetted for force to become academies. They had spoken to Local Authorities, some had given them a list of schools, others just the number of schools.

In December Janet Lallysmith, a campaigner from the Save Downhills School campaign, submitted a request for the full list to the DfE. Since the government has been talking about a list of 200 schools for months, and some schools, such as Downhills in Haringey and Montgomery in Birmingham have been clearly identified, it would not seem to be a difficult request.

However the DfE disagrees.

“Unfortunately the Department cannot disclose the names of underperforming primary schools that you request and is applying the following exemption clause below as the reason.”

It seems that

‘disclosure of the information under the Act “would be likely otherwise to prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs”.’

Apparently the effective conduct of public affairs would be prejudiced if local people knew their school was threatened with being forced to become and academy!

Full text here http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/forced_primary_academies

GMB Briefing on Forced Academies

AAA office — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:20:21 +0000

The Secretary of State for Education can force a school to become an academy if, and only if, the school is “eligible for intervention”.
A school becomes “eligible for intervention” if it fails to comply with a warning notice issued by the local authority, or if Ofsted says it requires “significant improvement” or “special measures”.

Click here to download the Briefing

Noel Park Primary School and Forced Academy Status

AAA office — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:14:49 +0000

Copied from http://socialjusticefirst.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/noel-park-primary-school-and-forced-academy-status/

By Dave Cohen

Noel Park School in Haringey

Noel Park Primary School is one of several primary schools in the London Borough of Haringey at the centre of a mounting controversy over government plans to convert them to so-called Academy status. Education is an emotive subject and both sides of the Academies debate bandy around accusations of ideological dogmatism. My perspective has been informed by my experience as a parent of a child attending one of the schools being threatened with forced conversion to Academy status.

An Academy is a school that is publicly funded, but is outside the control of a Local Education Authority. Academies were introduced by the Labour government in 2000 to enable an alternative method of managing secondary schools with a perceived history of entrenched failure. The current Education Secretary, Michael Gove, has stated his intention to have all schools convert to Academy status regardless of their achievement level. A school that elects to become an Academy becomes an independent institution and the existing governing body forms the basis of a new Trust created to run the Academy. In the case of a school forced to become an academy, the DfE appoints a “sponsor” to run the school and the existing governing body is expected to oversee the transition. Should the governors reject the Academy order, the Secretary of State has the power to summarily dismiss them and appoint an interim executive board to administer the transition.

No parent at Noel Park believes the school is as good as it could be, and no parent objects to efforts to raise standards. Certainly few parents at Noel Park could be characterised, as Michael Gove seemed to imply, as being “satisfied with failure” or “an enemy of promise”. There may well be a debate to be had regarding taking Noel Park out of LEA control, but the objections from parents to the forced Academy policy stem from deep a sense of injustice, caused by two main factors – the lack of any meaningful consultation on the future of the school and a feeling that the school is being willfully misrepresented in an attempt to justify the way this policy is being implemented. This has led to a sense of being used as a test-bed for an ideologically-motivated policy.

Noel Park’s governors were informed of the decision to enforce Academy status in early December, and that they had until 20^th January to agree with the decision or be removed. In this six-week period over Christmas they were expected to consult with parents, staff and the LEA, identify a potential sponsor (despite it taking until the middle of January for the DfE to provide a shortlist of one), and explain both the Academy proposal and the merits of the sponsor to the parents and staff. In the only meeting the prospective sponsor has had so far with the existing governors, they demonstrated no background of running schools in Haringey or similar areas, no knowledge of the current teaching standards or pupil demographics, and their stated reason for wanting to take over the school was “because we were asked to”.

From my perspective, it seems clear that the Government is rushing through this policy. They are paying minimal lip-service to the idea of a consultation whilst clearly displaying their lack of interest in the views of the people the school and their programme is meant to benefit. They have been unwilling or unable to display any confidence in the foundation the policy is built on. We would welcome the opportunity to hear why and how becoming an Academy would improve Noel Park – however the DfE have avoided any opportunity to do so, leaving us to assume the worst about their motivations. The available facts about the advantages of academies are equivocal at best.

Beyond the disregard for the interests and views of the parents, there is an underlying feeling that the school’s (and by extension our children’s) genuine achievements are being denigrated by a manipulation of the school inspection system in order to justify this policy. Three years ago Noel Park was judged as “Good with outstanding features”. In November, following a change in the rating system to emphasise academic achievement above all else, it had fallen to “Inadequate”. It is clear that the goalposts have been moved to make it as difficult as possible for a school like Noel Park to make the grade and no consideration is made for the challenges the school faces – a very high level of mobility in the pupil body, and a very high proportion of children who speak a language other than English at home.

These events have generated a sense of anger among parents who feel disenfranchised and patronised by the process imposed on the school. Since there is no recourse under the law to oppose the Education Secretary’s decision, parents have been forced to organize a grass-roots campaign to raise awareness of the plans for the schools and the objections. Along with other nearby affected schools, parents have organized public meetings and enlisted the support of local politicians, including David Lammy MP. The issue has been raised on numerous occasions in the media, including on Newsnight, Women’s Hour and Channel 4 News. A demonstration is planned for Saturday 28^th January, and for the last few weekends parents and staff of the schools have handed out leaflets on nearby Wood Green High Road. Although the prospect of the DfE backing down seems remote at this stage, the campaign has galvanised the parents at the school, and generated a renewed sense of community and shared purpose. Whatever the future holds for Noel Park Primary, whoever is running the school can be assured that they will be expected to improve on current standards, and will be held to account if they fail to do so.

Dave Cohen is recently elected parent-governor of Noel Park Primary School in Haringey. He has written this article in a personal capacity.

Save Downhills School campaign statement

AAA office — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:03:38 +0000

On Friday Ofsted announced that they had placed Downhill School in special measures. Michael Gove has identified 200 schools, of which he says Downhills is one, that he says are ‘underperforming’ and should be turned into academies.

The Save Downhills School group have run a determined campaign to save their school and prevent it becoming an academy.

They have released the following statement:

“We are shocked to find that our school has been judged so harshly by Ofsted. It is clear from the parents’ responses to the Ofsted questionnaire that those who know the school have a very different and more positive view of Downhills School.

“We care about our school and want the very best education for our children. There is no evidence that forcing schools to become academies improves standards. The government wants to take schools away from elected local authorities and hand them over to academy chains – including for profit companies – who have no experience of running primary schools. This is not about school improvement; this is a politically driven attack on our school.”

On a positive note, our year 3 children have won a national photo competition and their work will be displayed in the National Gallery from 9 May to 15 September ’12.

Also, our campaign very much continues – we do not believe that forced academy status is a solution to our current situation. We wish to continue our school improvement within the local family of schools. So we very much still say – NO to forced academies.”

Rush messages of support to savedownhills@hotmail.co.uk

News items

School Head resigns amid row with Michael Gove

Tears as pupils say goodbye to school head

Ofsted give damning report into Birkdale High School Academy

AAA office — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:58:16 +0000

UNISON press release

OFSTED GIVE DAMNING REPORT INTO BIRKDALE HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMY

Today Ofsted have released their report to parents of their findings into Birkdale High School Academy. Just 4 months into their Academy status the school has been deemed to be “Inadequate with Special Measures.”

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector is of the opinion that this school requires special measures because it is failing to give it pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement.

UNISON Branch Officer, Jonathan Allan said:

“This is an extremely worrying report for everybody concerned with Birkdale High, parents, pupils and staff. Even more worrying because it is without precedent, this is the first of Michael Goves Academy convertor schools to fail in the North West. Because there is no natural hierarchy, as in a Local Authority, it is Michael Gove who will decide what action needs to be taken. In the past he has said that if an Academy should fail, the school “will get a new sponsor.” ie: a private company, Birkdale High currently doesn’t have a sponsor. This leaves it vulnerable to having one imposed upon it.

This could have consequences for the other schools in Sefton who have converted. Many of these education businesses are backed by venture capitalists that are acquisitive by nature and would want to operate a chain and are undemocratic and not transparent and have not direct relation to the communities they serve. In fact they are encouraged to do so by Gove. We would then have the unedifying state of affairs of our young people’s education being determined by the market. This is a truly appalling state of affairs.”

All schools in England are now being encouraged by the government to apply to become academies. Academies are schools with no local links to the community or the council, but funded by the taxpayer. In effect, they are state funded private schools. Once a local school has become an academy, there is no way back into the local education system and no voice of the community, only the imposition of sponsors by the government which take away the democratic process of governors.

UNISON has grave concerns about the fragmentation and privatisation of our school system and campaigned long and hard with other local organisations to oppose these seven Sefton schools converting to academies.

UNISON Regional Organiser, Paula Williams said:

“ The people who allowed this failing school to become an Academy and thus opting out of the control and accountability of the Local Authority need to be held to account for that decision. This proves that allowing school to adopt Academy Status does not mean a better education for our children”. She went on to say ”this is a very difficult time for both parents and staff who do not know what will happen next”

Kimberley school governors vote unanimously against academy status

AAA office — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:29:06 +0000

On Tuesday 7th February governors at Kimberley school in Nottingham voted unanimously against academy status!

Kimberley School last night rejected a move to academy status. The statement issued by the Governing Body is reproduced below;

Statement by the Governing Body of The Kimberley School as agreed at the meeting of 7 February 2012:

As a result of the comprehensive consultation exercise the Governors of The Kimberley School unanimously believe that, on balance, it is not in the best interests of the school to change status at this time. However, Governors have resolved to keep this under review.

We think the Governing Body are to be congratulated on the decision which was taken in the face of what I believe was considerable pressure from the Local Authority to convert to an academy school. Kimberley School now joins secondary schools in Rushcliff and Eastwood in rejecting academy status.

We would like to thank all of you who have been involved in the campaign and also thank those of you who have at least just taken the time to contact me and discuss your views. Whatever your involvement it has been much appreciated.

There are too many to thank individually by name but we would just like to say a special thank you to those elected Councillors and other community leaders who were prepared to speak out and support the campaign. Its never an easy thing to do when representing others, whom may or may not share your views but whom will let you know at election time.

http://savekimberleyschool.wordpress.com/

Education in Lincolnshire: what does the future hold?

AAA office — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:48:44 +0000

A free conference for parents, governors and teachers

Sponsored by: Centre for Educational Research and Development,

University of Lincoln

Education reforms, nationally and locally, are making huge changes to schooling in Lincolnshire. What is driving these changes? Are the arguments educational or economic? What’s in it for the County’s children?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions . . . if you want to engage in serious, open debate about the future of the County’s schools . . . then this event is for you.

The questions are important to get right – the answers are too important to get wrong.

Programme:

Keynote speaker: Melissa Benn

(author of School Wars: the Battle for Britain’s Education)

Workshops – on Curriculum, Governance, Finance, Employment Issues

(see overleaf)

Expert panel Q &A

(Governors, Councillors, Union Officers answer your questions)

Details:

2-5 pm

Saturday 3^rd March

EMMTEC Auditorium

University of Lincoln, Brayford Campus

(Close to bus and rail links, ample car parking)

Plus:

Book Launch and wine reception (5pm): Towards Teaching in Public: Reshaping the Modern University (Continuum Press). Edited by Professors Mike Neary, Les Bell and Howard Stevenson with contributions from colleagues at the Centre for Educational Research and Development.

Evening Social (8pm-midnight) at The Platform, Lincoln Students’ Union.

Join us for an evening of music with live bands to support UN millennium development goals for promoting girls’ education in Africa and to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Admission free – collection for Rwanda Girls’ Initiative – supporting girls’ education in Rwanda.

Workshop sessions:

Academies: what’s in it for the children?

Government claims that the drive to Academies is intended to raise standards. What is the evidence, from England and internationally, that these type of school reforms result in improved outcomes for children? What is the impact of such reforms on ‘achievement gaps’ between students from different socio-economic groups, or children from different ethnic backgrounds? How does increasing competition between schools impact on children with special educational needs and school exclusions?

Workshop leaders: Howard Stevenson (CERD) and Sarah Dodds (Teacher/Parent)

Governance: who controls our schools?

The rapid drive to Academies has raised important questions about who controls our schools. How are Academy schools accountable to the community and where is the democracy? What are the consequences for community control of a drive towards Academies? How are corporate sponsors, accountable to the local community? Who supports the governors if things go wrong?

Workshop leaders: Alasdair Smith (Anti-Academies Alliance), Darren Dodds (Governor)

School funding: who is getting the money?

New changes to school organisation have made funding arrangements increasingly complex. Many schools feel compelled to consider Academy conversion because they believe improved funding will follow. What do we really know about the funding for LA and Academy schools? Is the promise of ‘new money’ myth or reality? Does anybody gain? Who loses?

Workshop leader: Peter Downes (ex-Principal, Cambridgeshire Councillor, national authority on school finance issues)

Employment issues: safe in their hands?

Current education reforms provide employers with considerable flexibility to vary pay and conditions of service. When considering Academy conversion employees are often assured that ‘nothing will change’ – pay, pensions and conditions of service will be protected. What are the ‘new flexibilities’? How secure are national pay and conditions for current and new staff? What is the evidence from Academy schools that national pay and conditions are being protected? This session will focus on issues facing both teaching and support staff.

Workshop leaders: representatives from Bernie Pardon (NASUWT Exec), Ken Rustidge (NUT Exec) and Unison (invited).

Click here to download leaflet

Academy chains: No case for expansion

AAA office — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:40:17 +0000

Of the 249 schools listed in the DfE data as ‘sponsor-led’ academies, almost a third are run by chains. As Fiona Millar pointed out in the Guardian last summer, these are one of the fastest growing aspects of our new education landscape. The Oasis chain has grown from £3 million to £70 million between 2006 and 2010 and Ark from £3 million to £117.5 million. The E-act chain grew from £15.5 million to £60 million in just one year, from 2009 to 2010. (Since Fiona published this information, the chains have chosen to make their accounts private and so future figures will not be available.)

The chains appear to be strongly favoured by government. Toby Young, for instance, has commented that future free schools will only be able to get through government procedures if they are run by chains. E-act alone plans to run 126 schools by 2015. So how are the chains performing?

Read the full article on the Local Schools Network

‘Free’ School to be run entirely by ex military personnel

AAA office — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:27:34 +0000

NUT RESPONSE TO THE PROPOSED PHOENIX FREE SCHOOL, OLDHAM

There is a proposal to open a free school based at the soon to be vacated Breeze Hill School in Oldham. The school would be run by ex military personnel and teaching staff would be ex troops.

Oldham National Union of Teachers has expressed opposition to the proposal claiming that it would make guinea pigs out of Oldham children for the sake of an ideological experiment.

Tony Harrison, secretary of Oldham National Union of Teachers said

“The sponsors of the proposed free school claim that most of our current schools are failing pupils. This is nonsense. The reality is that 70% of our schools are rated by OFSTED as good or outstanding. Most of the rest are satisfactory. Therefore, where is the discipline crisis? There has to be a balanced approach to discipline and trained teachers are best placed to deliver this. We do not want to turn our schools into youth detention centres.

Phoenix claims that it has based its proposals on strong research evidence from the Troops to Teachers schemes in the United States. However, the research that they quote relies on the perceptions of certain individuals. More reliable research shows that students of traditionally trained teachers outperform students of teachers without teacher training qualifications. The American scheme is different to the one proposed in Oldham. At least in the USA the ex troops take classes alongside qualified and trained teachers. As far as we are aware there is no other school internationally where all full time staff will be ex service personnel. Why should the children of Oldham to be the first worldwide to be subject to an experiment which has no educationally proven track record? We would urge the citizens of Oldham to consider whether they really want their children to be guinea pigs. Children only get one shot at education. It would be a risky gamble on the part of parents to send their kids to this school.

The curriculum which the school intends to use is much narrower than that on offer in state schools. They claim that they will educate to grammar school standards but in reality they will offer more limited subjects than comprehensive schools. They say that they will refuse to teach geography as a distinct subject because they consider this to be environmental propaganda. This perhaps goes some way to explaining their political motive for opening the school.

If the school ever opens there will be no requirement for teaching staff to have any teaching qualifications. It is intended to begin with three “teachers” who will have a degree and three “instructors” who will have neither a degree nor a teaching qualification. They reluctantly accept that legally there has to be one qualified teacher because by law the SENCO must be qualified. As for the rest of the teachers they seem to be proud of the fact that they will not will not be teacher trained because they dimiss teacher training as liberal nonsense. They reject all of the wealth of knowledge and skills developed in teacher training colleges over decades. They reduce teaching to using “common sense”. I do not believe that the parents of Oldham’s children will want their child to be taught by an untrained person with untested skills in the classroom.

The plan is to open the school on the site previously used by Breeze Hill School. This rubs salt into the wound because the new school will be privately run but will not have to pay for the building. The people who will pick up the bill are the taxpayers who are already hit hard by the recession.”

Academy figures for February 2012

AAA office — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:10:51 +0000

The latest government figures for academies, released on 3^rd February, show there are now 1580 academies open.

49 new academies opened at the beginning of February

Of these 24 are secondary and 33 are primary schools.

55% of secondaries are not academies – 1735

15,000 primary schools remain as community schools – 96%

Click here to download the latest data by Local Authority