Primary Schools to be Forced to Become Academies Under Government Proposals
The latest Government plans regarding the conversion of primary schools to academies have prompted strong reactions, both positive and negative. Education Secretary Michael Gove recently announced that poorly performing state primary and secondary schools in England are to be forced into becoming academies, in a bid to improve the current poor standards being found in many schools across the country.
It appears the Government no longer intends to tolerate an educational system which sees many children leaving primary school with little or no basic grasp of English and Maths; currently less than 60% of pupils, across England’s 1,400 primary schools, fail to achieve a satisfactory level in these two key subjects. Many then go on to finish secondary school without five good GCSEs. The worst 200 primary schools in England are to be targeted in an attempt to raise the standards of education.
Academy status enables schools greater freedom to operate as they choose, such as with staff pay, the curriculum taught and school opening times. Mr Gove has reported that at least 200 schools had failed to reach national targets for at least 5 years.
Lanyon Bowdler partner and company and commercial solicitor, Richard Murrall believes that there is a strong government will and desire to persuade all schools to eventually become academies. Richard comments “Those in favour and who have converted believe becoming an Academy will give the school autonomy, in that by opting out of local authority control will give it the opportunity to receive funding direct from Government to use how the school sees fit to preserve and improve what it already has, and to make savings which can be used to improve the school where necessary for the benefit of the pupils.
“However, I do recognise that others in the educational sector have grave concerns that the Government’s current policy will destroy a lot of the good work that has been done previously, and will create a “best and the rest” educational system. Only time will tell."
Richard Murrall