The Department for Education has revealed that a total of 142 schools are currently on track to convert to academy status this academic year. 32 of these conversions will take place this month. 

The conversions form part of the Government’s much-publicised new academies programme, which encourages maintained schools to adopt academy freedoms. Based on the current number of schools due to convert, the NUT has deemed new academies “a failure”. 

However, as relevant legislation only came into force last month and the option of conversion is only currently available to “outstanding” schools, surely many schools will be keen to see how the frontrunners fare before committing to a conversion? A slow start perhaps, but with a full school year now ahead, the pace of conversion could rise significantly.

Posted by Katie Michelon, who specialises in education law advice to schools, colleges and LEAs, including commercial advice on education sector projects such as academies, trust schools and federations.

Katie Michelon
0115 976 6189
kmichelon@brownejacobson.com

This week, Michael Gove announced that over 1000 schools have expressed interest in becoming academies. The government’s Academies Bill, introduced last week, enables all maintained schools to apply to become academies. It also promises automatic approval of academy status for those schools judged “Outstanding” by Oftsed.

To date, 626 “outstanding” schools have registered their interest in converting to academies. Despite their existing success, they are presumably tempted by the promise of greater independence.
Rapid expansion of the academy population currently looks inevitable and the government has been keen to emphasise the types of freedoms that academies will enjoy, such as the freedom to adapt the National Curriculum and vary the length of the school day. However, governors and the wider school community may still need to be convinced of the benefits of conversion, not least because of its historic association with failing schools.

Posted by Mark Blois
0115 976 6087
mblois@brownejacobson.com

The new government is expected to give all ‘outstanding’ schools the automatic right to become an academy. 

Many schools rated highly by Ofsted are already planning to take up the offer quickly, with the first schools due to become academies by this September.  Academies are independent of local authorities and can employ their own staff and set their own admissions policy. 

For successful schools, these freedoms are likely to be appealing.  The policy is also very attractive for the new government in light of reduced public spending. Under Labour, schools gained autonomy by becoming an academy, but the scheme typically included new buildings and capital assets, such as ICT. However, by allowing existing schools to become academies, the government can ensure that many successful head teachers get the independence they say they want without the need for expensive capital investment.

Posted by Mark Blois
0115 976 6087
mblois@brownejacobson.com

Mr Gove, Shadow Schools Secretary, stated yesterday he does not wish ‘another generation of our poorest children to have their future blighted by failing schools’. Interestingly, the Tories believe their plan of focusing on less failing schools is the way the next generation will benefit.

By concentrating on the worst performing schools – a mere 56 as opposed to Labour’s National Challenge Scheme which currently includes 270 schools – Mr Gove plans to draft in heads who are familiar with turning schools round. Further to this, he wants the most outstanding institutions to be exempt from Ofsted inspection in order that underperforming schools can be targeted.

The question, with which we are left, is what will happen to those schools that are neither failing nor excelling?

Posted by Mark Blois
0115 976 6087
mblois@brownejacobson.com