All posts tagged: academies

CEOs of big trusts ‘escape scrutiny’ under pay crackdown

CEOs of big trusts ‘escape scrutiny’ under pay crackdown

Published by skeptic

The government’s new CEO pay crackdown has allowed the biggest chains to escape scrutiny as the method used to identify “outliers” appears to be loaded against smaller trusts. Schools Week analysis of Department for Education data used to name and shame 37 leaders over high wages reveals it held some “to a different standard” based on size. We can also reveal that bungling officials used the wrong figures in their analysis for the country’s best-paid CEO – Harris Federation’s Sir Dan Moynihan. The figure used was £150,000 off his actual salary, fuelling more uncertainty over officials’ workings. The news comes as the government confirmed it is working on another clampdown – which will again publish the names of trusts deemed to be “outliers” on pay. ‘Unfair’ analysis To calculate the outliers, the Education and Skills Funding Agency initially grouped trusts into bands by type and pupil numbers “to minimise bias”. Trust CEOs were deemed to be outliers if they fell into the top 5 per cent in their band for having both the highest pay in …

Academies haven’t raised pupil achievement – there’s no need for them to have privileges that other schools do not

Academies haven’t raised pupil achievement – there’s no need for them to have privileges that other schools do not

Published by skeptic

The UK education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, is planning to cut some of the freedoms academy schools currently enjoy in England to refocus on improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. Critics say academies are hugely successful but my research has shown there are better ways to make education fairer. The academies programme was introduced in England in 2002 by the then Labour government as a way to improve failing schools. These schools were given additional initial funding, as well as recurrent, per-pupil funding. They had freedom from local council control and from the national curriculum, and more flexibility in terms of pupil places, teacher pay and contracts. From an initial three schools, the academy programme has grown rapidly and adapted in the process. Academisation was a central pillar of Conservative education policy, and over 40% of all schools are now academies, and more than 50% of pupils in England attend one. The current Labour government plans to cut back on some of the exceptions afforded to academy schools – such as their freedom from the national curriculum …

Parliamentary committee calls for evidence

Parliamentary committee calls for evidence

Published by skeptic

Intense lobbying expected as bill seeks to curtail academy freedoms Intense lobbying expected as bill seeks to curtail academy freedoms More from this theme Recent articles A Parliamentary committee that will scrutinise the government’s children’s wellbeing and schools bill is inviting evidence from the sector. Having passed its first and second reading in the House of Commons, the bill will now be considered by a public bill committee – which will go through the bill line by line. MPs will head oral evidence from sector leaders, but are also calling for written submissions to inform their scrutiny of the bill and any amendments tabled by Parliamentarians. A number of proposals in the bill, particularly around moves to curtail freedoms for academies, have already proved controversial in the sector. A substantial lobbying effort is therefore expected as MPs consider the bill. The committee is due to meet for the first time on January 31, and will report back by 5pm on February 11. But the committee could conclude its work earlier, so is asking for written …

Academy investigation changes may ‘hinder transparency’

Academy investigation changes may ‘hinder transparency’

Published by skeptic

Public accounts committee ‘concerned’ decision to publish investigation summaries ‘hinders transparency’ Public accounts committee ‘concerned’ decision to publish investigation summaries ‘hinders transparency’ More from this theme Recent articles The influential public accounts committee has demanded answers from education officials after Schools Week revealed a promise to publish academy scandal investigations had been ditched. The Department for Education has published 27 academy investigation reports since 2012 under a promise to be “fair and transparent about how public money is spent”. But in October, an “outcome” report after an eight-year investigation into the Lilac Sky Schools Trust was published. Unlike full reports, the “outcome” publication had few details, totalling just three pages. Full published reports are normally at least ten pages, with some as many as 30. Government was berated by the Public Accounts Committee in 2019 for not being “sufficiently transparent about the results of inquiries into concerns” about financial management and governance of trusts. One of its commitments following the criticism was to publish the results of investigations within two months of the work being …

Labour’s ‘act of vandalism’ bill ‘risks teacher pay cuts’

Labour’s ‘act of vandalism’ bill ‘risks teacher pay cuts’

Published by skeptic

More from this theme Recent articles Labour’s plan to water down academy freedoms is an “act of vandalism” that could cut 20,000 teachers’ pay, Conservatives have warned amid growing criticism of the schools bill to be debated by MPs today. Sir Nick Gibb, the former schools minister, this week urged Labour to abandon plans “driven by ideological hostility to academies” While the Tory veteran’s criticism is not unexpected, he is just the latest to publicly raise concerns over proposals set out in the children’s wellbeing and schools bill. The bill will make all academies follow the national curriculum, allow councils to open schools again and end the automatic academisation of failing schools. Trust bosses have already voiced their misgivings, with national newspapers also starting to criticise the government’s academy plans. For instance, the Economist ran a piece headlined: ‘Labour lacks good ideas for improving Britain’s schools’. The criticism comes as the bill is due to be debated in parliament this afternoon. Reforms risk league table progress, says Gibb England’s pupils have risen up international league …

Academy reform ‘risks work to turn around toughest schools’

Academy reform ‘risks work to turn around toughest schools’

Published by skeptic

More from this theme Recent articles The loss of academy freedoms proposed by government risks making it “more difficult for trusts to do the hard work of improving schools in the most challenging circumstances”, a sector leader has warned. Confederation of School Trusts chief executive Leora Cruddas also said the government “must help us put a stop to all attempts by those who seek to undermine academy trusts”. There is a risk that the loss of these freedoms makes it more difficult for trusts to do the hard work of improving schools in the most challenging circumstances The government has announced today that its children’s wellbeing and schools bill will allow councils to open schools again, end automatic academisation of failing maintained schools and make academies follow national teacher pay and conditions. Academies will also have to cooperate with councils on admissions and pupil place planning, follow the national curriculum and ensure all teachers have or are working towards qualified teacher status. ‘This set of provisions feels very difficult’ In a briefing for CST members, …

Sweeping academies reform proposed in children’s bill

Sweeping academies reform proposed in children’s bill

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More from this theme Recent articles The government will legislate to allow councils to open schools again, end the automatic academisation of failing maintained settings and make academies follow reformed national teacher pay scales and conditions. The measures, set to be introduced as part of the renamed “children’s wellbeing and schools bill”, represent the latest move away from the academies model by the new Labour administration. When first announced at the King’s Speech, the then “children’s wellbeing bill” was set to enact a range of reforms pledged by Labour in opposition, such as a register of children not in schools and greater Ofsted powers over illegal schools. But details revealed today confirm the bill – now with the word “schools” added to its title – will go much further, echoing recent comments from the education secretary Bridget Phillipson. She confirmed in an interview with Schools Week last month that the government was considering letting councils open schools again. At present, the “free schools presumption” means councils identifying the need for a new school have a …

Academy trusts offer £25k ‘golden hellos’ as grant dropped

Academy trusts offer £25k ‘golden hellos’ as grant dropped

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More from this theme Recent articles Academy trusts are looking to entice schools to join them by stumping up the £25,000 cost of conversion in a move some have described as offering “golden hellos”. The Labour government will scrap £25,000 grants to aid schools convert to academy status in the new year. Now one trust looking to more than double in size has revealed it will set aside £50,000 to ease the way for schools to join its ranks. Another has vowed to split costs to ensure the lack of a grant does not become a “barrier” to growth. Dan Morrow But Dan Morrow, a former chief executive of Dartmoor Multi-Academy Trust, warned of “unintended consequences” that could lead to payments becoming “a factor in decision-making when it shouldn’t really be”.  “We need a refinement of the due diligence process, conversion process and the way schools join trusts, so we don’t end up in a situation whereby the ability of a multi-academy trust to pay this £25,000 becomes an incentive,” he said. Voluntary converters can …

Don’t rush biblical academy trusts

Don’t rush biblical academy trusts

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More from this theme Recent articles Sector leaders are urging Catholic dioceses launching religious mega MATs of up to 70 schools not to rush the “huge undertaking” to avoid the mistakes of the early academy days. All but one of the 19 English Catholic dioceses are pursuing trust growth plans, with papers seen by Schools Week showing bishops in one diocese planning to split almost 200 schools between three super-sized trusts. But the government’s “sudden” decision to scrap trust growth funding has prompted some to take stock, with one putting its MAT strategy on ice. Pepe DiIasio However, the wider merger plans are likely to reshape the current landscape of large trusts, with several likely to become among the country’s biggest. Pepe Di’Iasio, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, warned that the mega-merger plans would “require a great deal of planning and preparation”. “Setting up multi-academy trusts of the size envisaged is a huge undertaking and cannot be rushed into.” Rise of the religious mega MAT The Catholic dioceses want …

Coast and Vale merger decision due

Coast and Vale merger decision due

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Delta boss Paul Tarn took over Coast and Vale Learning Trust as chief executive in April Delta boss Paul Tarn took over Coast and Vale Learning Trust as chief executive in April More from this theme Recent articles Merger plans that would create England’s second-biggest multi-academy trust are due to be decided next month – by a board its chair sits on and with its chief executive already in charge of the other chain. Delta Academies Trust boss Paul Tarn took over Coast and Vale Learning Trust as chief executive in April. Paul Tarn It followed an “in-principle agreement” between the two trusts to join forces. The proposals – which will take Delta’s tally to 63 schools – will go before the Department for Education’s Yorkshire and Humber advisory board in two weeks. But leaders have warned of the risks attached to such a move. One trust chief executive, who asked not to be named, said: “The advisory board is in a very difficult position because they [the trusts] are so far down the line. …