|
|
Post by kstar on Mar 27, 2016 9:08:27 GMT
Teachers are currently being balloted on whether to consider strike action over forced academisation.
Forcing all schools to become academies is a dangerous move, but if they move to forcing everyone to be part of an academy chain, it is essentially privatisation by stealth. Our children's schools become pretty much franchises. We have a local chain that has been very successful in turning around failing schools - but we now have five schools which is completely identical in every detail. The management staff rotate round the five schools to ensure consistency. The timetable is the same. Class sizes are the same. Uniform the same. Every lesson is taught in exactly the same way with standard lesson plans. The structure of the school day is the same from start to finish. SEN provision and pastoral care are identical (in the case of pastoral care, it's virtually non existent).
Where is the parental choice? We all know fine well that our children are not able to be pigeon holed.
If you're not already doing so, please read up on what forced academisation means for the next generation - it's a scary process which I really don't want to be a part of.
|
|
|
|
Post by serrakunda on Mar 27, 2016 9:26:41 GMT
I know KStar it's really worrying. But it's been obvious for s long time that the tories intended to dismantle state education, pepole are only just waking up to it. Same with NHS
I work In the DfE, on QTS and induction, the West Midlands region commissioner sits on the other side of my office. All our jobs are bring sqeezed so they can expand. I'm not applying on point of principle. I've worked under governments of all parties but this is the only one where I'm really struggling to maintain the neutrality expected of civil servants,
We've already had an NUT demonstration outside our building. We have a local controversy, including pupil walk outs because the only two two single sex secondaries in the city, both academies, are merging because one set of governors had realised its not all it's cracked up to be and don't want to run a school anymore. The headteacher has already bailed out.
I see Nicky Morgan got a rough ride at the conference this weekend.
|
|
|
|
Post by kstar on Mar 27, 2016 10:05:51 GMT
Yes and quite rightly so. But equally I have seen a lot of teacher bashing on Facebook already saying that we are all just complaining to protect our short days and long holidays...
The whole thing shocks me so much I can hardly breathe when I contemplate what secondary education will be like for Starlet. Arts subjects being squeezed out along with technology, RE and anything else the government decides isn't worthy. Extended school days so we will barely need to deal with our own children at all. Unqualified teachers. A recruitment and retention crisis that is beyond belief - and will become worse when academy chains start using the power they have to ignore teachers terms and conditions.
The list is endless.
|
|
|
|
Post by pingu on Mar 27, 2016 16:30:29 GMT
And here was me complaining that the way the new scottish curiculum was being implemented at ds1's school caused him and many others problems,.....but at least the breadth of curiculum is mostly still there, and the schools are still local and LA.
Hope there is enough of a backlash to undo this for you all south of the border, it sounds a horrendous situation.
|
|
|
|
Post by gilreth on Mar 27, 2016 19:57:28 GMT
Worrying me a lot - academies do work in some circumstances. I have been lucky to be involved in one that does and hoping that it might expand to cover our schools if we really cannot stop this....
You should hear the conversations at work about all the changes in primary/secondary education - most academics are not happy with them either....
|
|
|
|
Post by milly on Mar 27, 2016 21:29:05 GMT
I certainly think we should be considering all the implications of this move. I have heard about some terrible practice at some academies and know staff who feel they have had a lucky escape in moving on. As for LA 'control' - LA services have been so far run down that all we get at work now is a skeleton service, with very little relation to that of some years back. The days of the domination of the LAs seem long gone. Our school is now part of a network of schools who have started to provide their own training and share practice - none are academies.
But ... dd2 will be attending an academy when she starts year 7 in September and by all accounts it is fantastic. The way it informs and welcomes parents exceeds any other school I know of, for one thing. We had an invite for a coffee morning the day after she received the place - DH went and was extremely impressed. Their open evenings for prospective year 7s were much better organised than many, and were very child-friendly - dd went to three across year 5 and 6 and each time I struggled to tear her away to go to bed! The way they support the year 6s with transition is also excellent. Every current parent I have spoken to speaks very highly of the school. The vast majority of dd's class will also be attending, which speaks volumes in an area where there is a wide range of secondary schools (not all live in catchment for each though, of course). The school is not part of any chain either.
But yes, I don't really 'get it' and would like to know a lot more about why academies in general are thought to be substantially better than LA controlled schools.
|
|
|
|
Post by kstar on Mar 31, 2016 20:24:28 GMT
Oh don't get me wrong, I work for an outstanding academy and it definitely can work - the one Starlet will go to is also an academy and is a fantastic school. However both of them are independent and not involved with any form of private backing.
The danger is in the idea of academy chains - because it's not a massive leap to businesses who want the chains to make a profit, meaning that children who attract PPP might be an attractive proposition but for all the wrong reasons. Our principal has been given to understand that any independent academies that have a poor inspection will potentially be taken over immediately by a chain...
The whole thing scares me, not least because any damage done could potentially take generations to undo, particularly in terms of the lack of qualified, well motivated professionals who will be left in the system.
|
|
|
|
Post by moo on Apr 4, 2016 6:47:39 GMT
Not properly qualified to comment, but it scared me sh1t!ess when I heard it announced.....
I cannot work out how tiny village schools will have enough budget to survive    .... does not bode well for the next 2 years....
Hope the action/strikes make gvmt see sense.....
Xx moo xx
|
|
|
|
Post by flutterby on Apr 4, 2016 14:31:10 GMT
It's bonkers. I signed a petition against it only to get a patronising email back along the lines: of course we value all subjects and particularly the Arts. However, we feel it is important not to FORCE students over 14 to participate in these subjects! Crazy. And perfect. Because we know teenagers are lazy and will only do them minimum required. So, a lot of them will choose not to carry on with artscsubjects because they so not have to and the government will interpret this as hard data, which proves that there is no interest. Thus they were right to remove said subjects in the first place. Any bets how long it'll take for another motion to stop teaching Arts in the primary sector?
That said LOs future primary have now added to their prospectus that they are an academic school with high expectations for their students and that they expect all their students to learn an instrument and a foreign language. I am sure that this was added in protest and it is great. Sadly the head is not the youngest, but hopefully will stay for a while yet.
|
|
|
|
Post by kstar on Apr 4, 2016 18:49:02 GMT
Moo - my fear is that tiny village schools will be swallowed up whole by large chains... Each to become a clone of the next. It's the only way I can see them surviving as Academies, given that they are unlikely to be able to afford to employ business managers (we never had a business manager or HR until we became an Academy... Now we have a Business Manager who is on the same salary as our Vice Principals, two full time and an apprentice finance staff and three full time HR staff!)
|
|
|
|
Post by serrakunda on Apr 13, 2016 12:45:57 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by kstar on Apr 14, 2016 20:03:50 GMT
What's that word I'm thinking of?
Oh yeah... B****llocks.
Pardon my language. My blood is boiling.
|
|
|
|
Post by serrakunda on Apr 14, 2016 20:25:21 GMT
You should have been in our staff briefing yesterday! See my post on the other board
|
|
|
|
Post by serrakunda on Apr 18, 2016 8:58:27 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by kstar on Apr 18, 2016 20:34:00 GMT
Gee thanks Serra just what I needed... One of those is actually the trust in our local area that is making every school they take over identical.
I can't read any more... I feel sick.
|
|
|
|
Post by runmum on Apr 25, 2016 9:18:54 GMT
I think this blog from Michael Rosen sums up a lot of my concerns. It's not the best for most children but could be disastrous for our children. I am up for a protest - is Adoption UK doing anything? The key question is how to they turn around failing schools - there has to be the temptation to remove difficult children and even those who under perform. I am writing to my Tory MP. michaelrosenblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/10-points-for-you-to-use-for-meeting-on.html?spref=tw |
|
|
|
Post by serrakunda on Apr 25, 2016 11:15:13 GMT
I think the govt is in trouble over this one !
Its a good idea for those with Tory MPs to write to them.
It might also be helpful if someone started a thread on the AUK page or one of those parliament petitions.
As a Dept for Education employee I really can't do anything, I'm already being a naughty girl participating in this thread
|
|
|
|
Post by serrakunda on Apr 25, 2016 15:09:28 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by flutterby on Apr 27, 2016 6:28:11 GMT
Just had an email that Parliament will debate the Arts issue 4th July because the petition against it has reached over 100000 signatures. I hope they haven't chosen that day because they know that it's going to be an empty house day, but at least it is now out in the open.
|
|
|
|
Post by serrakunda on May 6, 2016 21:28:26 GMT
What a climb down!!
Almost wish I'd been in work today!
|
|
|
|
Post by gilreth on May 7, 2016 20:09:37 GMT
LOL Serrakunda - you should have heard the cheers here when we heard about the U-turn. DH made the comment it seems to be the week/day for them....
|
|
|
|
Post by kstar on May 9, 2016 20:35:03 GMT
Hmmm as far as I know, all academies are still subject to the same rules about exclusions. We have been an academy for four years now and we very much have our hands tied when it comes to fixed term or permanent exclusions. Our head has just told us today that the law is changing again, so that in the case of a permanent exclusion, not only will the school be fined but we will also continue to be responsible for the educational outcomes for the child until they reach 16.
|
|
|
|
Post by serrakunda on May 9, 2016 21:43:25 GMT
Speaking as a DFE employee BD long time civil servant, it's a very cleverly worded but none the less quite clear backdown, wrapped up in a lot of politician speak
Don't forget that the majority of secondary schools are already academies
|
|
|
|
Post by serrakunda on Jul 12, 2016 11:41:06 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by imp on Jul 16, 2016 16:33:31 GMT
So right Serra, and in too many cases they are worse. We've seen it here, when the 2 failing secondary schools became Academies. and after a stupendous launch, with the promise of soooo much to be spent on each pupil--individual technology etc---staffing levels have been drastically cut, taking away the essential support for the children and leaving the staffing structure even more top heavy.
Of course, it might help if the 'Head' actually had solid teaching experience, instead of being essential an administrator.
Thank goodness my granddaughter has got a place at a nearby Catholic Secondary , definitely not an Academy and streets ahead of them.
I just feel sorry for all the children who are being let down even more by the current system
|
|
.... does not bode well for the next 2 years.... 
