Is Michael Gove as dangerous as he sounds?

[french frank]

I find it interesting to see how decisions were made on which schools should first be chosen to become academies.

I don't know how they were chosen. Two of our local (independent) schools are now academies but they applied for the status and were granted it. Is it the case that those less likely to be academically successful were refused? Or was it that heads and astute governing bodies who put forward workable schemes were accepted? In a city like Bristol which (still) has a plethora (too many) of goodish-to-very good independent schools, two academies are welcome, no matter what the general arguments are pro and con - not least because the independent schools have historically creamed off the academically able and left the city's state schools with a pretty dreadful record.

[Lateralthinking1]

Hi French Frank, I would say that in the case of the local school, it was middle class pressure. There are closer links between the movers and shakers among the public and the councillors and between the councillors and the national politicians. "You make it work for us and we'll make it work more generally for you". Something along those lines. They saw a chink of light and seized the day - Lat.

[Mahlerei]

My daughter's school - a state selective - has opted for academy status this year. It's regularly in the top 10 of its kind nationwide, so that decision may seem a little odd. However, the board of governors seems to think it will give them access to much-needed cash for refurbishment and expansion. They've assured us that the ethos of the school will remain unchanged.

[french frank]

Hi French Frank, I would say that in the case of the local school, it was middle class pressure. There are closer links between the movers and shakers among the public and between the councillors and the national politicians. "You make it work for us and we'll make it work more generally for you". Something along those lines. They saw a chink of light and seized the day - Lat.

Can one summarise the actual results for education in the area?

In Bristol we can say that there were two fee-paying independent schools which have now been expanded in terms of numbers, are having additional facilities provided, and offer free places for children from a wide area in and around the city. But this, of course, was before Mr Gove arrived on the scene ...

Mahlerei: ditto here.

[Flosshilde]

My daughter's school - a state selective - has opted for academy status this year. It's regularly in the top 10 of its kind nationwide, so that decision may seem a little odd. However, the board of governors seems to think it will give them access to much-needed cash for refurbishment and expansion. They've assured us that the ethos of the school will remain unchanged.

If a school becomes an academy it is given a great deal more money than it had a a state school; it is in effect bribery. One of the much-trumpeted 'benefits' of academies was that they would bring private-sector funding through their sponsors. Unfortunately the private sponsors usually cough up far less than the state, but have a far greater say in how it is managed, staff selection, & in the general ethos. They also (I think) have more powers over selection & exclusion, so that they can avoid pupils who are likely to bring down their exam pass rate. The local community, via the local council, have no say in schools provision in their area.

The rapid expansion of academies & the introduction of 'free' schools is nothing less than privatising education.

[Simon]

[Cellini]

Is Michael Gove as dangerous as he sounds?

YES, ALL politicians are as dangerous as they sound.

[Lateralthinking1]

French Frank - Not really. The school has no sixth form. Interestingly, a quick search for the league tables revealed only partial comparative results for the Independent schools and none whatsoever for the Academy. I am sure that they can be located somewhere but it seems that the emphasis in the tables is on poorer performing schools. And maybe the fine print for the others is hidden?

The number of students achieving the top A*/A grades has increased by 50% since 2008 and the rate at which student performance has improved from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4 means that the Academy is now in the top 25% of schools in the country. GCSE results for Year 11 students show an overall increase in attainment levels of 12% for students achieving 5A*- C; and an 8% increase on students achieving 5 A*- C grades including English and Maths.

However, the best GCSE results in the school's history before Academy status was the year before that status changed - a 41% A* - C pass rate.

The names of the high achievers at the school are interesting. This is still the least racially diverse part of London but the position has changed significantly due to a recent policy of educating many who live closer to inner London here. While the social backgrounds of these students are very wide ranging, middle class Asian families are buying homes. Arguably intelligence is being moved in rather than being developed because of changes to schools policy - Lat.

[Mahlerei]

floss

Entrance is by exam only so I don't see how private sponsors or anyone else can affect the school's intake. I also fail to see how they can possibly determine who is hired or fired. The present head is very strong and dedicated, and i would look to her to ensure the change of status doesn't harm the school in any way. We shall have to see.

[Flosshilde]

Mahlerei, you said in your previous post that your daughter's school is 'state selective'. I assume that you mean a grammar school? Most of the schools that have converted to academies have been comprehensive (as the majority of schools are). They become selective in their intake.

As for determining who is hired or fired, in my experience (as a school governor in the past) the sedlection panel, made up of governors (including the head) & local authority advisors are the people who appointed teachers. Academy sponsors can appoint governors to the school. I think you will find that when your school becomes an academy you could very well find that the headteacher has rather less say than now. The local authority - & the local community - will also have rather less influence. Did you have any say in whether the chool should be an academy, or who the sponsor would be? & did parents at the feeder primary schools, whose children might be expected to attend the school in the near future, have any say? Do you know who the sponsor is?

[Mahlerei]

Yes, it is a grammar school. To be honest I am a little uncomfortable with this change in status and I note your concerns as a one-time governor yourself. I hope very much your predictions don't come to pass. The teachers I have met are a very dedicated bunch and I would hate to see the school's reputation/ethos changed. It's a done deal, though, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

[Flosshilde]

So who's your sponsor? I understand that Rupert Murdoch & News International were interested in sponsoring a journalism academy - presumably mobile phone interception will feature on the syllabus (http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/...cademy-schools). Or is it one of the religious ones, who want 'intelligent design' to feature in the science syllabus & would be hostile to any gay pupils? (http://www.creationism.co.uk/index.p...terOfComplaint - a letter writen by a Marc Draco )

Still, if your head is really good the sponsors might award her bonuses to bring her pay up to the level of a primary school headteacher who was recently featured in the press, & has got even Gove worried - http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/534a1cf8-8...#axzz1B89BCcBr

(incidentally, originally the sponsor only needed to put up 10% of the finance; this was later 'relaxed' as not enough were coming forward)

[Simon]

I shouldn't post on this anymore, "governor" Flossie, cos it's getting embarrassing. It's clear you know hardly anything about it and are just repeating political stuff you've come across in various rags. Even the links do little or nothing to back up any of your "points".

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Any head teacher/ board of governors who is taken in by the government bribe is rather dim. The extra cash is an illusion, so no benefit there.

But when a school gets into difficulties, other state schools have the back-up of the L.E.A. An academy has nothing. So if a headteacher drags a school down, the way up again is much more problematic.

[JimD]

I'm afraid you are out of date Flosshilde. The new fast track academies do not have sponsors.

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/becominganacademy/a0066018/conversion-process/#faq4

It appears to be uncertain what rules will apply to other schools but it seems likely that sponsorship will not be necessary.