Academy (English school) explained

An academy school in England is a state-funded school which is directly funded by the Department for Education and independent of local authority control. The terms of the arrangements are set out in individual Academy Funding Agreements.[1] 80% of secondary schools, 40% of primary schools and 44% of special schools are academies (as of October 2023).[2]

Academies are self-governing non-profit charitable trusts and may receive additional support from personal or corporate sponsors, either financially or in kind.[3] Academies are inspected and follow the same rules on admissions, special educational needs and exclusions as other state schools and students sit the same national exams. They have more autonomy with the National Curriculum,[4] but must ensure their curriculum is broad and balanced,[5] and that it includes the core subjects of English, maths and science. They must also teach relationships and sex education, and religious education.[6] They are free to choose their specialisms.

Types

The following are all types of academy:[7]

An academy trust that operates more than one academy is known as a multi-academy trust, although sometimes the terms academy group or academy federation are used instead. An academy chain is a group of trusts working together under a shared management structure.[20] [21]

Features

An academy is an independent state school governed by the Academy Agreement it makes with the Department for Education, and at that point it severs connections with the local education authority. The current advisory text is the Academy and free school: master funding agreement dated March 2018.[22] [23] The governors of the academy are obliged to publish an annual report and accounts, that are open to scrutiny and inspections.[24]

All academies are expected to follow a broad and balanced curriculum but many have a particular focus on, or formal specialism in, one or more areas such as science; arts; business and enterprise; computing; engineering; mathematics; modern foreign languages; performing arts; sport; or technology. Although academies are required to follow some aspects of the National Curriculum, they are otherwise free to innovate; however, as they participate in the same Key Stage 3 and GCSE exams as other English schools, they teach a curriculum very similar other schools, with only small variations.[25]

Like other state schools, academies are required to adhere to the National Admissions Code, although newly established academies with a faith designation are subject to the 50% Rule requiring them to allocate at least half of their places without reference to faith.[26] In terms of their governance, academies are established as companies limited by guarantee with a Board of Directors that acts as a Trust. The Academy Trust has exempt charity status, regulated by the Department for Education. The trustees are legally, but not financially, accountable for the operation of the academy. The Trust serves as the legal entity of which the school is part. The trustees oversee the running of the school, sometimes delegating responsibility to a local governing body which they appoint.[27] The day-to-day management of the school is, as in most schools, conducted by the head teacher and their senior management team. In Sponsored Academies, the sponsor is able to influence the process of establishing the school, including its curriculum, ethos, specialism and building (if a new one is built). The sponsor also has the power to appoint governors to the academy's governing body.

History

The Labour Government under Tony Blair established academies through the Learning and Skills Act 2000,[28] which amended the section of the Education Act 1996 relating to City Technology Colleges.[29] They were first announced as part of the Fresh Start programme[30] [31] [32] in a speech by David Blunkett, then Secretary of State for Education and Skills, in 2000.[33] [34] [35] He said that their aim was "to improve pupil performance and break the cycle of low expectations''.[36]

The chief architect of the policy was Andrew Adonis (now Lord Adonis, formerly Secretary of State at the Department for Transport) in his capacity as education advisor to the Prime Minister in the late 1990s.[37]

Academies were known as City Academies for the first few years, but the term was changed to Academies by an amendment in the Education Act 2002.[38] The term Sponsored Academies was applied retroactively to this type of academy, to distinguish it from other types of academy that were enabled later.

By 2024, about 80% of state-funded secondary schools were academies or free schools, and about 40% of primary schools were academies.[39]

Sponsored academies

Sponsored Academies originally needed a private sponsor who could be an individual (such as Sir David Garrard, who sponsors Business Academy Bexley), organisations such as the United Learning Trust, mission-driven businesses such as The Co-operative Group or outsourcing for-profit businesses such as Amey plc). These sponsors were expected to bring "the best of private-sector best practice and innovative management" to academies, "often in marked contrast to the lack of leadership experienced by the failing schools that academies have replaced" (known as predecessor schools).[40] They were originally required to contribute 10% of the academy's capital costs (up to a maximum of £2m). The remainder of the capital and running costs were met by the state in the usual way for UK state schools through grants funded by the local authority.

The Government later removed the requirement for financial investment by a private sponsor in a move to encourage successful existing schools and charities to become sponsors.

Sponsored Academies typically replaced one or more existing schools, but some were newly established. They were intended to address the problem of entrenched failure within English schools with low academic achievement, or schools situated in communities with low academic aspirations. Often these schools had been placed in "special measures" after an Ofsted inspection, as has been the case for schools in the Co-op Academies Trust (one of the larger business-supported trusts).[41] They were expected to be creative and innovative because of their financial and academic freedoms, in order to deal with the long-term issues they were intended to solve.[42]

Originally all Sponsored Academies had to have a curriculum specialism within the English Specialist Schools Programme (SSP).[43] However, this requirement was removed in 2010.[44] By May 2010 there were 203 Sponsored Academies in England.[45]

Converter academies

The Academies Act 2010 sought to increase the number of academies. It enabled all maintained schools to convert to academy status, known as Converter Academies and enabled new academies to be created via the Free School Programme.

At the same time the new Conservative-led Coalition Government announced that they would redirect funding for school Specialisms [i.e. [[Technology College|Technology College Status]]] into mainstream funding.[46] This meant that Secondary Schools would no longer directly receive ring-fenced funds of £130K from Government for each of their specialisms.[47] One way to regain some direct control over their finances and retain specialist funding was to become a Converter Academy and receive all of their funding direct from Government, with the possibility of buying in services at a cheaper rate.[48] This, along with some schools wanting more independence from local authority control, meant that many state secondary schools in England converted to academy status in subsequent years.[49]

By April 2011, the number of academies had increased to 629, and by August 2011, reached 1,070.[50] By July 2012 this number reached 1,957, double that of the previous year.[51] and, at 1 November 2013, it stood at 3,444.[51]

Financial accountability

The Education Funding Agency monitors financial management and governance of academies. In March 2022, a report by parliament's Public Accounts Committee found that academy trusts paying a staff member more than £100,000 had increased from 1,875 to 2,245 in 2020-2021 from the previous financial year. The committee concluded that lack of financial transparency undermined parents' capacity to hold school leaders and the funding agencies to account.[52]

The converting procedure (2022)

The governors of a school are persuaded to consider academy status, perhaps in response to an approach by a multi-academy trust (MAT). They have two choices: remain with their current local authority, or join a multi-academy trust; converting to be a stand-alone trust ceased to be an option prior to 2018. If they were only given a 'satisfactory' (now referred to as 'requir[ing] improvement') Ofsted rating, they don't have the power to make the decision. The governors assess the MATs available and willing to take them on. Ethos and values, geographical mix of schools and practicality, how individual schools have succeeded in retaining their identity, value for money, and the trust's capacity to support the development of schools and staff are all factors that are compared. The governors then select a partner trust.[53]

They then register interest with the DfE and inform the Regional Schools Commission. Governors open consultation with parents and staff, and with this information make a decision as to whether to proceed. Assuming they do, the Regional Schools Commissioner approves the decision to join the selected trust and the Secretary of State issues an academy order. The school staff to are transferred to the MAT in accordance with TUPE regulations, and land and commercial assets are transferred from the local authority. The school can change its mind until documents are sent to the Secretary of State in order to be signed; this is usually around three weeks before the agreed conversion date.

There are legal costs involved, and £25,000 is given to a converting academy to cover these costs. The local authority must grant a 125-year lease to the academy trust for the land. School land and playing fields are protected under Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. The school pays a proportion of its central funding to the MAT for shared services but can in theory take better measures to ensure best value.

Support

Whilst still in the fairly early stage of development, supporters pointed to emerging data showing "striking"[54] improvements in GCSE results for academies compared to their predecessors,[55] with early results showing that "GCSE results are improving twice as fast in academies as in state schools".

In an article in The Observer, that regarded many of the Government's claims for academies with scepticism, journalist Geraldine Bedell conceded that:

They seem, so far, to be working – not all as spectacularly as Mossbourne, but much better than most of the struggling inner-city schools they replaced.[56]

The article singles out the cited academy, Mossbourne Community Academy in Hackney, as "apparently the most popular [school] in Britain – at least with politicians" and "the top school in the country for value-added results".

Since the early stages of the academies sector, the sector has grown substantially, and as of January 2022, more than half (53%) of all pupils in England are educated in an academy,[57] and academies account for 39% of primary schools (40% of the primary school population), 80% of secondary schools (79% of secondary school pupils) and 43% of special schools (40% of special school pupils). This growth in the academies system coincides with the improvement of Ofsted judgement across schools, with 88% of all schools rated Good or Outstanding, an improvement from 68% in August 2010.[58]

Research from the University of Nottingham into how the academies sector responded to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic showed how strong and sustainable trusts are a resilient and protective structure for pupils and schools.[59]

Sector experts such as Leora Cruddas, Chief Executive of the sector body Confederation of School Trusts, support the concept of academy trusts being the ideal vehicle for school improvement,[60] as, unlike in local authorities, “it is the legal vehicle that enables schools to work together in a group in a single legal entity. The trust, therefore, creates the capacity for school improvement. As the legal entity, the trust can also create the conditions and the culture of improvement.” They also highlight the impact academy trusts have made in tackling the attainment gap in areas of the country such as the North.[61]

Criticism and opposition

Academies have continued to be controversial,[62] [63] [64] [65] [66] and their existence has frequently been opposed and challenged by some politicians, commentators,[67] teachers, teachers' unions,[68] and parents. Even after several years of operation and with a number of academies open and reporting successes, the programme continues to come under attack for creating schools that are said to be, among other things, a waste of money,[69] selective,[70] [71] damaging to the schools and communities around them, forced on parents who do not want them, and a move towards privatisation of education "by the back door".

Opposition within Labour

The introduction of academy schools was opposed by teachers' trade unions and some high-profile figures within the Labour Party, such as former party leader Lord Kinnock.[72] [73] Lord Kinnock criticised the academies scheme, saying that they were a "distortion of choice" and risked creating a "seller's market" with "schools selecting parents and children instead of parents selecting schools".

Education Select Committee in 2005

The House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee reported in March 2005 that it would have been wiser to limit the programme to 30 or 50 academies in order to evaluate the results before expanding the programme, and that "the rapid expansion of the Academy policy comes at the expense of rigorous evaluation".[74] The Select Committee was concerned that the promising results achieved by some academies may be due to increased exclusions of harder-to-teach pupils. They noted that two Middlesbrough academies had expelled 61 pupils, compared to just 15 from all other secondary schools in the borough.

Criticism of choice of sponsors

The programme of creating academies has also been heavily criticised by some for handing schools to private sector entrepreneurs who in many cases have no experience of the education sector: such as the Evangelical Christian car dealer, Sir Peter Vardy, who has been accused of promoting the teaching of creationism alongside macroevolution in his Emmanuel Schools Foundation academies. This is also linked to the wider debate in the education sector as to the benefits or otherwise of the growing role of religion in the school system being promoted by the New Labour government in general, and Tony Blair in particular, with many[75] [76] academies (one estimate puts it at "more than half"[77]) being sponsored either by religious groups or organisations/individuals with a religious affiliation.[78] [79]

A parliamentary report in 2015, entitled "Free Schools and Academies", recommends that "In the meantime the Government should stop exaggerating the success of academies and be cautious about firm conclusions except where the evidence merits it. Academisation is not always successful nor is it the only proven alternative for a struggling school".[80] In 2016 a major study by the Education Policy Institute found no significant differences in performance between academies and local council run schools.[81]

Expense and diversion of funding

The original City Academy programme was attacked for its expense: it cost on average £25m[63] to build an academy under this scheme, much of which was taken up by the costs of new buildings. Critics contend that this is significantly more than it costs to build a new local authority school.[82] Some operators are paying senior staff six-figure salaries, partly funded by central government.[83] [84]

In December 2012, the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons questioned Henry Stewart, of the Local Schools Network, and Rachel Wolf, of the New Schools Network, on accountability and funding of academies and free schools. The Committee was review a report by the Auditor General, Managing the Expansion of the Academies Programme (HC 682), which had identified that in 2011-12 £96,000,000 had been diverted from supporting under-performing Local Authority schools to the academies programme, followed by a further £400,000,000 in the financial year 2012-13.[85] [86] The Committee also questioned Chris Wormald, then Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education, who admitted that the Government had deliberately chosen to remove money originally allocated to support under-performing schools. Chris Wormald stated, "The Government took a very conscious decision that its major school improvement programme was the academies programme."

Effectiveness

In December 2018, the Sutton Trust published a report on the effectiveness of MATs in improving the performance of disadvantaged children, with its authors noting that "Our five-year analysis of sponsor academies' provision for disadvantaged pupils shows that while a few chains are demonstrating transformational results for these pupils, more are struggling."[87]

Party policies, and developments since the end of the Labour Government

The Conservative Party has supported the academy proposal from its inception but wants the scheme to go further.[88] This accord was reflected in a remark made by Conservative spokesman David Willetts in 2006:

In 2004, the Liberal Democrats were reported as being "split" on the issue and so decided that academies should not be mentioned in the party's education policy.[89] The position of Phil Willis, the education spokesman at the time, was summarised as:

In 2005, Willis' successor, Ed Davey, argued that academies were creating a "two-tier education system"[90] and called for the academy programme to be halted until "a proper analysis can be done".[91] At the subsequent election, Academies were supported by all three main political parties,[92] with a further cross-party initiative to extend the programme into primary schools currently being considered.[93]

In 2010 the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats coalition government announced plans to expand the academy programme with the Academies Act 2010. In May 2010 the then Education secretary Michael Gove wrote to all state schools in England inviting them to opt out of Local Authority control and convert to Academy status. Gove also stated that some academies could be created in time for the new Academic year in September 2010.[94] By 23 July 2010, 153 schools in England had applied for academy status, lower than the prediction that more than 1,000 would do so.[95] In spite of the expanding Academy programme, in August 2010 Gove announced that 75 existing academy rebuild projects were likely to be scaled back.[96] Nevertheless, by September 2012, the majority of state secondary schools in England had become Academies.[97] Monthly updated information on existing academies and free schools, and applications in process, is published by the Department for Education.[98]

Comparisons

The city academy programme was originally based on the programme of City Technology Colleges (CTCs) created by the Conservative government under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, which were also business-sponsored. From 2003, the Government encouraged CTCs to convert to academies; did so (for example, Djanogly CTC is now Djanogly City Academy) was a 2003 conversion.

Academies differ from CTCs in several ways; most notably, academies cannot select more than 10% of pupils by ability, whereas CTCs can. Academies have been compared to US charter schools,[99] which are publicly funded schools largely independent of state and federal control.

s

See main article: Multi-academy trust. A number of private and charitable organisations run groups of academies, known as Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs). These major operators include ARK Schools, Academies Enterprise Trust, E-ACT (formerly Edutrust Academies Charitable Trust), Emmanuel Schools Foundation, Harris Federation, Oasis Trust, Ormiston Academies Trust, Tauheedul Education Trust and United Learning Trust.

The Department for Education publishes a full list of active academy sponsors.[100]

Concern about MATs taking over primary schools that are then rebrokered

In 2019 there were 5,539 primary academies in England, of which 514 were forced away from local authority control after being failed by Ofsted. The Department for Education (DfE) paid out at least £18.4m to the academy trusts taking on these schools. The parents, governors and local authorities had no say in how this money was spent or how the assets were used.[101]

Since 2013–14, more than 300 primary academies have been rebrokered (receiving government setup money again) or moved between trusts. In 2017–8, seven trusts running primary schools closed leaving all their schools in search of another sponsor. This leads to uncertainty and expense as the new trust will rebrand and parents must pay for new school uniform. New rules, staff and systems are set in place.[101] [102]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: What is a Funding Agreement? a can of worms. davidwolfe.org.uk. 4 January 2018. 8 October 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180104192422/http://davidwolfe.org.uk/wordpress/archives/241. 4 January 2018. dmy-all.
  2. Web site: . October 2023 . Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics . GOV.UK: Explore Education Statistics . dmy-all.
  3. Web site: Charities and charity trustees: an introduction for school governors. Charity Commission website. Charity Commission. 3 May 2014. 21 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181221103330/https://www.gov.uk/topic/running-charity. dead.
  4. Web site: Types of school - Academies. 16 March 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160316211956/https://www.gov.uk/types-of-school/academies. 16 March 2016. dmy-all.
  5. Web site: Academies Act 2010, Section 1. Gov.uk. 18 March 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305211742/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/32/section/1. 5 March 2016. dmy-all.
  6. Web site: Academy and Free School Master Funding Agreement. Gov.uk. 18 March 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151010032820/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/388471/Academy_and_free_school_-_master_funding_agreement.pdf. 10 October 2015. dmy-all.
  7. Web site: Types of academy . www.ssatuk.co.uk . Specialist Schools and Academies Trust . 3 May 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140503185240/http://www.ssatuk.co.uk/ssat/support/academies/about-academies/types-of-academy/ . 3 May 2014 .
  8. Web site: Academy sponsorship. Gov.uk. Department for Education. 3 May 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140503185227/https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/academy-sponsorship. 3 May 2014. dmy-all.
  9. Web site: Comparison of Different School Type. NSN website. New Schools Network. 3 May 2014.
  10. Web site: Academy conversion process. Gov.uk. Department for Education. 3 May 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140503185031/https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/academy-conversion-process. 3 May 2014. dmy-all.
  11. Web site: Education Terms: Free Schools. DfE Website. Department for Education. 3 May 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140503170022/http://www.education.gov.uk/vocabularies/educationtermsandtags/7123. 3 May 2014. dmy-all.
  12. Web site: The free school presumption. Gov.uk. 16 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160111142835/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/451377/Academy_and_free_school_presumption_departmental_advice_2.pdf. 11 January 2016. dmy-all.
  13. Web site: Types of school. Gov.uk. Department for Education. 4 May 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140219225058/https://www.gov.uk/types-of-school/free-schools. 19 February 2014. dmy-all.
  14. Web site: UTC Colleges Overview. UTC Colleges. Baker Dearing Educational Trust. 16 July 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150716153058/http://www.utcolleges.org/about/overview/. 16 July 2015. dmy-all.
  15. Web site: How to open a maths school. 2022-01-24. GOV.UK. en.
  16. Web site: How to apply to set up a maths school for 16 to 19 year olds. 2022-01-24. GOV.UK. en.
  17. Web site: Downs. Janet. 2018-05-12. The chancellor can't make maths schools add up. 2022-01-24. schoolsweek.co.uk. en-GB.
  18. News: 'Faith' academy faces criticism. BBC News website. 18 March 2005. BBC. 4 May 2014.
  19. News: Ward. Victoria. Test case could dictate admissions policy in faith schools. 4 May 2014. 15 November 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140602070119/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/9681719/Test-case-could-dictate-admissions-policy-in-faith-schools.html. 2 June 2014. dmy-all.
  20. Web site: Academy Chains. SSAT UK website. Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. 4 May 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140504105416/http://www.ssatuk.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Academy-Chains-and-Groups.pdf. 4 May 2014. dmy-all.
  21. Web site: Become an academy: information for schools. Gov.uk. Department for Education. 4 May 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140504104002/https://www.gov.uk/become-an-academy-information-for-schools. 4 May 2014. dmy-all.
  22. Web site: Academy and free school-master funding agreement. www.gov.uk. 3 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425083310/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/388471/Academy_and_free_school_-_master_funding_agreement.pdf. 25 April 2017. dmy-all.
  23. Web site: Changes to DfE funding agreements for academies. Wrigleys Solicitors. 3 January 2018. Leeds. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180104192327/https://www.wrigleys.co.uk/news/education/changes-to-dfe-funding-agreements-for-academies/. 4 January 2018. dmy-all.
  24. Web site: Academy and free school-master funding agreement- 4.23. www.gov.uk. 3 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425083310/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/388471/Academy_and_free_school_-_master_funding_agreement.pdf. 25 April 2017. dmy-all.
  25. Web site: How much do academies use their legal 'freedoms' in practice a can of worms. davidwolfe.org.uk. 3 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180104194015/http://davidwolfe.org.uk/wordpress/archives/1418. 4 January 2018. dmy-all.
  26. Web site: School admissions code. gov.uk. Department for Education. 4 May 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140421084106/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-admissions-code. 21 April 2014. dmy-all.
  27. Web site: Brunton . Cloe . The role of the local governing body . Academy Today . 8 December 2018 . 28 April 2015.
  28. Web site: Learning and Skills Act 2000 (c. 21) . Opsi.gov.uk . 17 August 2011 . 21 August 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20081121075842/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00021--i.htm#130 . 21 November 2008 . dmy-all .
  29. Web site: Education Act 1996 (c. 56) . Opsi.gov.uk . 17 August 2011 . 21 August 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20070416093050/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1996/96056-cc.htm . 16 April 2007 . dmy-all .
  30. Web site: 2000-03-15 . Anger at scheme for failing schools . 2022-04-03 . BBC News.
  31. Web site: Baker . Mike . Mike Baker (journalist) . 2000-03-15 . City academy, US-style . 2022-04-03 . BBC News.
  32. Web site: Education social policy: part 5 - New Labour 1997-2010: The Blair/Brown years . 2022-04-03.
  33. News: Carvel. John. Blunkett plans network of city academies. 4 May 2014. The Guardian. 15 March 2000. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140504192442/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/mar/15/schools.news. 4 May 2014. dmy-all.
  34. News: Blessed be the school sponsor. 4 May 2014. Times Educational Supplement. 17 March 2000. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140504192033/http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=332257. 4 May 2014. dmy-all.
  35. News: EDUCATION | 'City academies' to tackle school failure . BBC News . 15 September 2000 . 21 August 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20040220082603/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/925378.stm . 20 February 2004 . dmy-all .
  36. News: 2000-03-15 . Blunkett plans network of city academies . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-12-26 . 0261-3077.
  37. News: Garner . Richard . The Big Question: What are academy schools, and is their future under threat? . . 8 October 2008 . 31 December 2009 . London . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091005212902/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/the-big-question-what-are-academy-schools-and-is-their-future-under-threat-954486.html . 5 October 2009 . dmy-all.
  38. Web site: Education Act 2002 (c. 32) . Opsi.gov.uk . 17 August 2011 . 21 August 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930180256/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/20032--j.htm . 30 September 2007 . dmy-all .
  39. News: Multi-academy trusts have higher secondary-level teacher turnover than local authority schools . Weale . Sally . The Guardian . 16 April 2024 . 16 April 2024.
  40. Web site: BSF – HOW TO SPONSOR AN ACADEMY OR A SPECIALIST SCHOOL. A GUIDE FOR SPONSORS. Parliamentary Year Book 2008. Blakes. 4 May 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018113652/http://www.parliamentaryyearbook2008.co.uk/CP/how-to-sponsor-an-academy.html. 18 October 2012. dmy-all.
  41. Web site: THE CO-OPERATIVE ACADEMIES TRUST - GOV.UK. get-information-schools.service.gov.uk. 28 April 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180106063504/https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Groups/Group/Details/2777#list. 6 January 2018. dmy-all.
  42. Web site: Q&A: city academies. Channel 4 News website. Channel 4. 4 May 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140504222839/http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/education/qa+city+academies/1071547.html. 4 May 2014. dmy-all.
  43. Web site: Specialist Schools . The Standards Site . . 15 December 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081218220436/http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/specialistschools/ . 18 December 2008 . dead .
  44. Web site: Specialist schools programme: Michael Gove announces changes. Gov.uk. Department for Education. 3 May 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140503185028/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/specialist-schools-programme-michael-gove-announces-changes. 3 May 2014. dmy-all.
  45. News: Q&A: Academies and free schools . BBC News . 26 May 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20100529074130/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/education/10161371.stm . 29 May 2010 . dmy-all .
  46. Web site: Specialist schools programme: Michael Gove announces changes. Gov.uk. Department for Education. 4 May 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140503185028/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/specialist-schools-programme-michael-gove-announces-changes. 3 May 2014. dmy-all.
  47. News: Waugh. Paul. Michael Gove signals end for specialist schools. 4 May 2014. Evening Standard. 19 October 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140504223124/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/michael-gove-signals-end-for-specialist-schools-6527122.html. 4 May 2014. dmy-all.
  48. Web site: Q&A: Academies . BBC News website . BBC . 4 May 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150212192613/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13274090 . 12 February 2015 . dmy .
  49. "Huge increase in academies takes total to more than 2300", Dept. for Education Press Notice, 7 Sept. 2012. (Web site: Huge increase in academies takes total to more than 2,300 . 2013-02-13 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130405040951/http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/inthenews/a00213703/huge-increase-in-academies-takes-total-to-more-than-2300 . 5 April 2013 . dmy .)
  50. Web site: Open academies and academy projects in development – The Department for Education . Education.gov.uk . 19 August 2011 . 29 August 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110831194526/http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/a0069811/schools-submitting-applications-and-academies-that-have-opened-in-201011 . 31 August 2011 . dmy-all .
  51. Web site: Open academies, free schools, studio schools and UTCs . 2012-08-02 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140223002024/http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/b00208569/open-academies . 23 February 2014 . dmy .
  52. News: MPs accuse DfE of failing to control academy leaders' excessive salaries . Weale . Sally . The Guardian . 25 March 2022 . 25 March 2022.
  53. Web site: 17 October 2018 . Central Lancaster High School- parent Consultation Meeting . 12 August 2020 . files.schudio.com/central-lancaster-high-school/files/documents.
  54. News: Adonis . Andrew . Andrew Adonis . Academies are a success story . . 31 December 2009 . 3 September 2008 . London . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140925083434/http://www.theguardian.com/education/2006/aug/25/gcses.secondaryschools . 25 September 2014 . dmy-all.
  55. News: Smith . Jacqui . Jacqui Smith . This is a comprehensive success story . . 15 November 2005 . 31 December 2009 . London . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140504172525/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/nov/15/schools.newschools . 4 May 2014 . dmy-all.
  56. News: Bedell. Geraldine. Children of the revolution. The Observer. 31 August 2008. 2 September 2008. London. https://web.archive.org/web/20080901151620/http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/aug/31/secondaryschools.schools. 1 September 2008 . live.
  57. Web site: Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic Year 2021/22 . 2022-12-21 . explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk . en.
  58. Web site: Main findings: State-funded schools inspections and outcomes as at 31 August 2022 . 2022-12-21 . GOV.UK . en.
  59. Web site: News - Research suggests Midlands schools' Covid-19 response was strengthened by Trust leadership - University of Nottingham . 2022-12-22 . www.nottingham.ac.uk.
  60. Web site: School improvement: who should be in charge? Tes . 2022-12-21 . www.tes.com . en.
  61. Web site: North not 'too hot' for MATs - and there is plenty of evidence Tes Magazine . 2022-12-21 . www.tes.com . en.
  62. News: Harris. John. John Harris (critic). What a creation .... The Guardian. 15 January 2005. 31 December 2009. London. https://web.archive.org/web/20091130010200/http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2005/jan/15/features.politics. 30 November 2009 . live.
  63. News: Parkinson . Justin . Education | Why the fuss over city academies? . BBC News . 17 March 2005 . 21 August 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20081014002141/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4357383.stm . 14 October 2008 . dmy-all .
  64. News: Adams . Stephen . City academies: Lord Adonis announces plan to step up expansion plan . Telegraph . 24 August 2008 . 21 August 2011 . London . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080911073449/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/education/2614019/City-academies-Lord-Adonis-announces-plan-to-step-up-expansion-plan.html . 11 September 2008 . dmy-all .
  65. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article533411.ece Academies reverse years of failure in city schools – Times Online
  66. News: Rebecca Smithers . Half of city academies among worst-performing schools | Education . The Guardian . 19 January 2006 . 21 August 2011 . London . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131204144051/http://www.theguardian.com/education/2006/jan/19/schools.uk1 . 4 December 2013 . dmy-all .
  67. Roy Hattersley, The Guardian, 6 June 2005, "And now, over to our sponsors"
  68. Polly Curtis, The Guardian, 1 November 2004, "Academies 'gagging' teachers"
  69. Rebecca Smithers, The Guardian, 31 August 2004, "Flagship schools attacked over costs"
  70. Web site: Bob Roberts . Exclusive: Flushed Out . Daily Mirror . 28 July 2006 . 21 August 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605134518/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2006/07/28/exclusive-flushed-out-115875-17464408/ . 5 June 2011 . dmy-all .
  71. News: Education | Teachers 'oppose city academies' . BBC News . 14 March 2005 . 21 August 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170725002944/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4348931.stm . 25 July 2017 . dmy-all .
  72. News: Press Association . 2008-03-23 . Teachers' leader slams academy school plan . en-GB . The Observer . 2023-09-18 . 0029-7712.
  73. News: Kinnock criticises city academies . 18 April 2006 . BBC News . 29 November 2009 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20061224171954/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4917808.stm . 24 December 2006 . dmy-all .
  74. Web site: The Committee Office, House of Commons . House of Commons – Education and Skills – Fifth Report . Publications.parliament.uk . 21 August 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110629155129/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmeduski/86/8605.htm#a2 . 29 June 2011 . dmy-all .
  75. News: Education | Faith groups back more academies . BBC News . 17 July 2004 . 21 August 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20061201144323/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3901679.stm . 1 December 2006 . dmy-all .
  76. News: Hinsliff. Gaby. City schools could be front for evangelists. The Observer. 7 August 2005. 17 November 2017. London. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171118222554/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/aug/07/schools.newschools. 18 November 2017. dmy-all.
  77. http://richarddawkins.net/articles/106 "Root of All Evil? Part 2: The Virus of Faith"
  78. News: Faith schools are 'at odds with reason', says chaplain – Education News, Education . The Independent . 12 April 2006 . 21 August 2011 . London . Richard . Garner . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120206030806/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/faith-schools-are-at-odds-with-reason-says-chaplain-473817.html . 6 February 2012 . dmy-all .
  79. Web site: Richard Rose Central Academy: Press Release . 9 February 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120220085825/http://www.richardroseacademies.org/central/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=81 . 20 February 2012 . dmy-all .
  80. Web site: Archived copy. https://web.archive.org/web/20160703144354/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmeduc/258/258.pdf. 3 July 2016. live. 2015-05-08. dmy.
  81. News: Academy trust schools among the worst at raising pupil performance, new research shows. Jon Stone. 7 July 2016. The Independent. 7 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160708135821/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/academy-trust-schools-among-the-worst-at-raising-pupil-performance-new-research-shows-a7124651.html. 8 July 2016. live. dmy-all.
  82. Web site: Behr . Rafael . How car dealers can run state schools . New Statesman . 21 August 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606041910/http://www.newstatesman.com/200409200021 . 6 June 2011 . dmy-all .
  83. News: Academies pay £200k salaries . The Guardian . 14 November 2011 . 15 November 2011 . Shepherd, Jessica . Charities that run chains of academy schools are using public funds to pay senior staff six-figure salaries, with some on £240,000 or more. . London . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140504205630/http://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/nov/14/academies-pay-200k-salaries . 4 May 2014 . dmy-all .
  84. News: Protesting Tottenham parents 'disgusted' with Downhills Primary School governors' removal . 18 May 2013 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130723074454/http://www.haringeyindependent.co.uk/news/9592486.Protesting_parents__disgusted__with_Downhills_governors__removal/ . 23 July 2013 . dmy-all .
  85. Web site: House of Commons - Public Accounts - No - Minutes of Evidence: HC 787. publications.parliament.uk. en. 2018-05-03.
  86. Book: Morse, Amyas. Managing the expansion of the Academies Programme (HC 682). 20 November 2012. www.nao.org.uk. National Audit Office. PDF. 978-0-10-298047-9. HC 682. 2018-05-03.
  87. News: Weale . Sally. Academy chains underperforming for disadvantaged children, study finds . 20 December 2018 . The Guardian . 20 December 2018.
  88. News: Education | Parents back academies says Blair . BBC News . 12 September 2005 . 21 August 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20081016113927/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4236354.stm . 16 October 2008 . dmy-all .
  89. News: Hélène Mulholland in Bournemouth . Lib Dems split over city academies | Politics . The Guardian . 21 September 2004 . 21 August 2011 . London . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140916204008/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/sep/21/libdems2004.liberaldemocrats3 . 16 September 2014 . dmy-all .
  90. News: Matthew Taylor, education correspondent . City academies accused of deserting poor | Politics . The Guardian . 31 October 2005 . 21 August 2011 . London . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140920022711/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/oct/31/uk.newschools . 20 September 2014 . dmy-all .
  91. News: Doubts grow over city academies – Education News, Education . The Independent . 28 May 2005 . 21 August 2011 . London . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090904161405/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/doubts-grow-over-city-academies-492357.html . 4 September 2009 . dmy-all .
  92. News: Polly Curtis . As 51 academy schools prepare for first day, GCSEs show work still to be done | Education . The Guardian . 30 August 2008 . 21 August 2011 . London . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140715090154/http://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/aug/30/newschools.gcses . 15 July 2014 . dmy-all .
  93. News: Polly Curtis . Education: Expand academy model into primary sector, says thinktank | Education . The Guardian . 16 July 2008 . 21 August 2011 . London . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150403075030/http://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/jul/16/schools.newschools . 3 April 2015 . dmy-all .
  94. News: Michael Gove defends academy schools list . Angela Harrison . BBC . 30 July 2010 . 7 August 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100806162208/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-10817537. 6 August 2010 . live.
  95. News: Shepherd . Jessica . Wintour . Patrick . Michael Gove's academy plan under fire as scale of demand emerges . The Guardian . 29 July 2010 . 31 July 2010 . London. https://web.archive.org/web/20100801033245/http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/jul/29/michael-gove-academies-schools-claims. 1 August 2010 . live.
  96. News: Rebuild plans for 75 schools scaled back . Hannah Richardson . BBC . 6 August 2010 . 7 August 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100806191754/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-10893024. 6 August 2010 . live.
  97. News: Academies to become a majority among state secondary schools . Jessica Shepherd . Manchester Guardian . 5 April 2012 . 15 April 2014 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416191723/http://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/apr/05/academies-majority-state-secondary-schools . 16 April 2014 . dmy-all .
  98. Web site: Open academies and academy projects in development. Gov.uk. Department for Education. 21 February 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192403/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/open-academies-and-academy-projects-in-development. 4 March 2016. dmy-all.
  99. Rebecca Smithers, The Guardian, 6 July 2005, "Hedge fund charity plans city academies"
  100. Web site: Academy sponsor contact list. Gov.uk. Department for Education. 4 May 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140504022100/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/academy-sponsor-contact-list. 4 May 2014. dmy-all.
  101. News: McIntyre . Niamh . Weale . Sally . More than 300 English primary schools forced to become academies . 11 July 2019 . The Guardian . 11 July 2019.
  102. News: Hunter . Chris . Expert stunned over school's reported turnaround . 11 July 2019 . Kent Online . 14 June 2019 . en.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Academy (English school)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.