A look at education manifestos

Full Fact has a  breakdown of the election manifestos of political parties for the May 2015 General Election including a section on academies - and independent expert commentary from the National Foundation for Educational Research which questions the commitment of major parties to clarity on governance and Ofsted. (May 1 Fullfact also published Academies and maintained schools: what do we know? )

The BBC has a party-by-party list of education policies.

If you want to find out what you think before attaching party labels to policies take the voteforpolicies.org  test.

£23k theft of iPads noted in Northern Education Trust accounts

Updated April 19 - According to this news story from June 2014 - £23,000 of iPads were stolen from one Northern Education Trust school (Grangefield Academy in Stockton).

Just noticed on Page 27 of the Norther Education Trust's accounts - £23k of its fixed assets losses on "Theft of iPads"... although I have no idea what the context is.

Redundancy and central services charges from MATs in the North

Two redundancy related stories for MATs in the north of England - and an increase in central service charges from a MAT in the North East.

Sam Freedman - forming MATs key to dealing with era of austerity

In a blog for Faculty of Education at Canterbury Christ Church University, Sam Freedman - former Michael Gove adviser and now Director of Research, Evaluation and Impact at Teach First - said the main tools for schools in an era of austerity will be staff cuts and consolidation (or federation) through forming multi-academy trusts (MATs).

Two outstanding York primaries form MAT

From the York Press: 'From today Manor CE Academy and Poppleton Ousebank Primary School will form a multi-academy trust... will be called the Hope Learning Trust... As part of the process, Poppleton Ousebank became an academy.'

Ipswich Academy MAT-to-MAT handover questioned

The Ipswich Star explores whether the East London-based MAT Paradigm Trust is a sensible choice for taking over Ipswich Academy when it is based 75 miles away and has not run secondary schools before. It will take over from Learning Schools Trust.

Aldridge Foundation criticises free school programme

A report by Public Finance says Rod Aldridge, founder of Capita and the Aldridge Foundation which runs 11 schools, believes the free school programme poses threats to the academy programme.

Independent/state school partnerships and working together

Nicky Morgan (in debate They Work For You): '...we announced that 18 new primary independent/state school partnerships had been awarded DFE funding, so this is already happening.'

MAT-to-MAT handover of Essex academy

The Essex Chronicle reports that a letter to parents shows Lilac Sky academies trust is in discussions with the regional schools commissioner, Tim Coulson, for a new trust to take over (Tabor Academy) at the end of the current term.

Spat reveals advance funding and unseen financial barriers to conversion

From the Leicester Mercury: The DfE replied to the newspaper's questions about an alleged spat between Lord Nash, Education Minister and Sir Peter Soulsby, Leicester City Mayor.

More thoughts on 'emergency' payments to academies

Schools Week has looked at some of the details surrounding emergency payments to academies: £12.6m 'emergency' handouts for 22 schools. The article lists the most recent large recipients of the funding - you can find a  full list of schools that received this deficit funding over the last three years here.

Emergency cash flow funding for academies increased in 2013/14

Figures provided by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) show that individual academies needed more than £4 million to plug unexpected holes in their cash flows in 2013/14. This was up from £1 million in 2012/13.

Demand for emergency financial help for academies is decreasing

Deficit funding is a source of emergency funding for academies. In most cases academies do not have to repay this cash. In some cases academies do have to repay the money but this can be done over a longer period than money provided as 'advances of funding' (more detail on this here).

£15k exclusion fine proposed by council - academy excluded 58 in 5 years

From the Nottingham Post: 'The city council is now seeking to re-introduce charging £14,900 after every second permanent exclusion from any school.' The paper reported that 'Since 2009, Djanogly City Academy has excluded 58 students, including 12 last year and eight so far this term.'

NASBM Stephen Morales: unacceptable disparity in SBM pay across the country

From Academies Week (now Schools Week): '...unacceptable disparity in SBM pay across the country.'