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To be or not to be an academy. September 2012. Thoughts on the value of Education. “ It is always a much easier task to educate uneducated people than to re-educate the mis -educated.” Herbert M Shelton “Education is the movement from darkness to light.” Alan Bloom.
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To be or not to be an academy September 2012
Thoughts on the value of Education • “It is always a much easier task to educate uneducated people than to re-educate the mis-educated.” Herbert M Shelton • “Education is the movement from darkness to light.” Alan Bloom
Thoughts on the value of Education • “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” Aristotle • “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
Thoughts on the value of Education • “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.” Confucius • “The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.” Sydney J. Harris
What are Academies? Academies are publicly funded independent schools that provide a first-class education
Academies - Where are we now? • At 1 September 2012, 2309 open academies in England • 1808 are converters • 501 are sponsored • 769 are primary academies • 1484 are secondary academies • 56 are special academies
The current position • 282 academies opened this September, taking the total number to 2309. • There are now more than 10 times as many academies as there were in May 2010 when there were just 203 academies. • Failing schools have been specifically targeted by the Government for radical improvement. • A record 130 sponsored academies open this month. The total number of sponsored academies is now 501. • 54 per cent of secondary schools are either already academies or in the pipeline to become academies. Source DfE 7.9.12
The current position • 1.7 million pupils are now taught in academies. • 120,000 teachers – a quarter of the frontline school workforce – now employed in academies. 48% of the secondary workforce are in academies. • 14 academies for children with special educational needs will open this month taking the total to 56, compared to just one last September. Source DfE 7.9.12
What to really consider • Size – Are you too small? • Accountable to whom? • Budgets – cost • Enriched curriculum • Best advice during process
The benefits of conversion • Freedom to set curriculum, terms and school day • Staff Pay and conditions • Administrative autonomy • Freedom of vision • Financial freedoms and potential benefit
What sort of academy? A variety of structures can be used: • Multi academy • Umbrella Trust • Single academy • Sponsored Trust • Academy Chain
The Big Decision • Governing Body decide to explore • Options reviewed and structure agreed • Full meeting • Consultation • Decision
Once you’ve decided • DfE grant • Governance documents • Register Trust • Land Documents • Complete consultation • Commercial transfer agreement • Submit Funding agreement • Approval of Funding agreement • CRB checks • New financial contracts • Registration • Opening
The Big Issues • Transfer of staff • Commercial transfer agreement • Land transfer – new lease • Funding agreement
Independence • Academies are independent schools. • “Independence” means what it says and is not to be treated lightly. • You will be responsible
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