Shortly after taking up the position of Education Secretary, Michael Gove wrote to all schools inviting them to apply to become academies and last week The Department of Education published the names of 1,700 schools that have sent enquiries to the government about making the switch.
The list is divided in to those who will be able to convert to academies from September, because they were rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted, and all others who have expressed an interest.
Wilmslow High School were amongst those who expressed an interest so yesterday I caught up with Headteacher Gill Bremner to find out her view on academies and why Wilmslow High School submitted an enquiry.
She explained " It is sensible to be kept fully informed: without this we are in no position to make any decision. From contacts with other schools my impression is that many schools have done the same and at this stage it is no commitment to becoming an academy."
Many benefits have been cited including greater freedom in teaching and increased funding, because academies will receive extra money which is currently given to local councils to provide services to local schools.
Gill Bremner said "There are, as in every situation, advantages and disadvantages. We have a very positive working relationship with the local authority, Cheshire East, and do not have the negative aspects painted in the press.
"We are in the process of finding out in more detail what those advantages and disadvantages might be: as yet there are many unanswered questions. Thus far representatives of the Department for Education and/ or the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust have been unable to answer these questions and have stated there will be more information in the autumn."
Concern has been raised that the new government bill, which enables schools to opt out of local authority control whilst remaining state funded, is undemocratic because it removes the requirement for them to consult parents and teachers, as well as removing the local authorities' power to stop schools from switching.
Gill Bremner explained "We would never proceed without consultation with our parents, staff, the local authority and our partner schools Poynton and Knutsford and our partner primary schools. At the moment only schools with an 'outstanding' judgment are able to 'fast track' to academy status if they want to: our last inspection judged Wilmslow High School to be 'good with outstanding features'. By registering our interest we will be as fully informed as 'outstanding schools'".
According to the government the purpose of the bill, expected next month, is:
- The Academies Bill will enable more schools to become Academies and give them the freedoms and flexibilities they need to continue to drive up standards.
- The Government’s vision is to create a world beating school system in which every parent has access to a good school and all pupils achieve high standards. Our central aims are to raise standards for all children, while narrowing the gap between the attainment of the most and least advantaged.
According to Gill Bremner "There is no evidence to say either way at this stage (whether academies will raise standards) as the previous academies, established under the previous government, were based on a different premise.
"Many schools will be seduced by the additional funding that will come with academy status in the first instance. Great teaching, caring, committed and hard working staff, engaged and enthusiastic students and supportive parents are the ingredients that raise standards and that costs a lot more than extra money and lasts a lot longer.
"We strive to raise standards all the time and there is enough evidence to show we are successful in this endeavour: no matter what the future may bring, and that may be that all schools have to go to academy status, we will continue to have students, their achievement and well being, as our core purpose.
"We are absolutely aware of the need to think very carefully and as I have already stated we will not make any decisions without appropriate consultation and full awareness of the implications.
"At the end of the day, within the current guidelines, the governors will make the final decision as to whether to apply or not and I can assure you they are as concerned as I am about making the right decision at the right time for Wilmlsow High School and its staff, students and parents."
