Monday, 4 November 2013
Islington freeschool backers' no-show at meeting
http://www.islingtontribune.com/news/2013/nov/ashmount-argument-%E2%80%98-choice-between-housing-and-free-school%E2%80%99
Islington Tribune: More than 100 parents packed into the Christ Church Hall in Crouch Hill to hear fierce arguments for and against the school, which would be called Whitehall Park and operate independently of local authority control But the companies behind it – Swiss-based Bellevue Education and the Place Group – failed to send a representative. They have also been criticised for only publicising a consultation on the proposed school to parents who had signed up on their website.
Islington Tribune: More than 100 parents packed into the Christ Church Hall in Crouch Hill to hear fierce arguments for and against the school, which would be called Whitehall Park and operate independently of local authority control But the companies behind it – Swiss-based Bellevue Education and the Place Group – failed to send a representative. They have also been criticised for only publicising a consultation on the proposed school to parents who had signed up on their website.
Second future schools head quits
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/oct/18/headteacher-quits-schools-future-academies
Susan Rankin-Reid leaves Churchill Garden academy in Pimlico, one of Lord Nash's four Future Schools.
Susan Rankin-Reid leaves Churchill Garden academy in Pimlico, one of Lord Nash's four Future Schools.
Mark Hoban: Let academies to borrow
Mark Hoban's post on Conservative Home:
http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2013/10/mark-hoban-mp-its-time-for-academies-to-have-the-freedom-to-borrow.html
Mark Hoban - lost job on front benches in October
If schools are already at capacity, they can bid for money from the Education Funding Agency, but if they are unsuccessful then parental choice can’t be satisfied. Academies could try to fund expansion themselves by borrowing, but Treasury rules prohibit this as it would count as part of government debt. Surely it is time to lift this barrier to parental choice. If each of the almost 3,400 secondary school academies borrowed £0.5m this year, this would be the equivalent of only 1.4 per cent of this year’s borrowing requirement. Isn’t it time that academies, that have so many freedoms already, have the freedom to borrow so more parents can choose the right school for their children?
http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2013/10/mark-hoban-mp-its-time-for-academies-to-have-the-freedom-to-borrow.html
Mark Hoban - lost job on front benches in October
If schools are already at capacity, they can bid for money from the Education Funding Agency, but if they are unsuccessful then parental choice can’t be satisfied. Academies could try to fund expansion themselves by borrowing, but Treasury rules prohibit this as it would count as part of government debt. Surely it is time to lift this barrier to parental choice. If each of the almost 3,400 secondary school academies borrowed £0.5m this year, this would be the equivalent of only 1.4 per cent of this year’s borrowing requirement. Isn’t it time that academies, that have so many freedoms already, have the freedom to borrow so more parents can choose the right school for their children?
Sponsors sought for new academies
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/education/academy-sponsors-sought-to-raise-standards-at-struggling-schools-1-6149374
Yorkshire Post:
Schools Minister Lord Nash made the call ahead of three events taking place in place around Leeds this week to promote the Government’s academies programme in the region.
The Department for Education is looking for academy sponsors to take on struggling schools and Lord Nash warned that although many schools in Yorkshire are performing well there are still primaries and secondaries where children were “not getting the standard of education they need”.
Lord Nash said: “I want to see all schools in the area achieving the very best for their pupils. There are some fantastic examples of great schools here – but equally there are cases where children are not getting the start in life they deserve.
“I would urge businesses and public-spirited individuals and groups to come forward and sponsor an academy, become a governor or get involved in another way in helping young people realise their potential.”
Yorkshire Post:
Schools Minister Lord Nash made the call ahead of three events taking place in place around Leeds this week to promote the Government’s academies programme in the region.
The Department for Education is looking for academy sponsors to take on struggling schools and Lord Nash warned that although many schools in Yorkshire are performing well there are still primaries and secondaries where children were “not getting the standard of education they need”.
Lord Nash said: “I want to see all schools in the area achieving the very best for their pupils. There are some fantastic examples of great schools here – but equally there are cases where children are not getting the start in life they deserve.
“I would urge businesses and public-spirited individuals and groups to come forward and sponsor an academy, become a governor or get involved in another way in helping young people realise their potential.”
Fulham Boys: 650 at opening day, 150 places
http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/fulham-boys-school-welcomes-650-6193468
650 turn up for Fulham Boys church of england free school opening. 150 places available next autumn.
650 turn up for Fulham Boys church of england free school opening. 150 places available next autumn.
KBW barristers on free schools
http://www.11kbw.com/knowledge-events/video/opening-a-free-school-tom-ogg
Video
“Free Schools were introduced following the election of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in 2010. The first 24 Free Schools opened in September 2011, and prior to September 2013 there were 81 Free Schools in total. A further 109 were due to open in September 2013 (taking the total to 190), and the Secretary of State for Education has approved a further 102 to open from September 2014.”
Video
“Free Schools were introduced following the election of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in 2010. The first 24 Free Schools opened in September 2011, and prior to September 2013 there were 81 Free Schools in total. A further 109 were due to open in September 2013 (taking the total to 190), and the Secretary of State for Education has approved a further 102 to open from September 2014.”
http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/local/head-of-failing-free-school-to-step-down-1-5588578
"The Broadfield school, set up in September 2011 as one of the country’s first free schools, was judged as needing ‘special measures’ in its first Ofsted inspection in May.
"Ofsted’s report of its inspection in September stated headteacher Lindsey Snowdon had agreed to step down from her role ‘as soon as a new headteacher can be appointed’.
"The report said: “It is essential that a credible professional is appointed to the headship without delay to provide the expert leadership necessary to remove the school from special measures.”
"The report added that the headteacher and business director had drafted a ‘statement of action’ and an improvement plan since the first report which were ‘not fit for purpose’.
"The Broadfield school, set up in September 2011 as one of the country’s first free schools, was judged as needing ‘special measures’ in its first Ofsted inspection in May.
"Ofsted’s report of its inspection in September stated headteacher Lindsey Snowdon had agreed to step down from her role ‘as soon as a new headteacher can be appointed’.
"The report said: “It is essential that a credible professional is appointed to the headship without delay to provide the expert leadership necessary to remove the school from special measures.”
"The report added that the headteacher and business director had drafted a ‘statement of action’ and an improvement plan since the first report which were ‘not fit for purpose’.
£20m sixth form college tax
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10378442/MPs-sixth-form-colleges-hit-by-20m-tax-on-learning.html
Tax on sixth form colleges to be looked at....
Tax on sixth form colleges to be looked at....
Doomed academy seeks academy status in Hammersmith and Fulham
http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/doomed-primary-school-applies-become-6186676
Staff and parents from Sulivan Primary School, Fulham, have been fiercely fighting plans by Hammersmith and Fulham Council to close it and merge it with nearby New King’s Primary. Governors at Sulivan have now applied to the Department for Education to transfer to an academy with the London Diocesan Board for Schools (LDBS). It will consult with parents in the next few weeks. This is the same provider behind new free school Fulham Boys, which under the current council plans could relocate into Sulivan’s vacated site in Peterborough Road.
Staff and parents from Sulivan Primary School, Fulham, have been fiercely fighting plans by Hammersmith and Fulham Council to close it and merge it with nearby New King’s Primary. Governors at Sulivan have now applied to the Department for Education to transfer to an academy with the London Diocesan Board for Schools (LDBS). It will consult with parents in the next few weeks. This is the same provider behind new free school Fulham Boys, which under the current council plans could relocate into Sulivan’s vacated site in Peterborough Road.
GCSE league tables changed
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/oct/14/gcse-table-shakeup-schools-coalition
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/oct/14/school-november-gcse-exams
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24326087
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2438023/Michael-Gove-GCSE-sit-grades-banned-league-tables.html
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/oct/14/school-november-gcse-exams
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24326087
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2438023/Michael-Gove-GCSE-sit-grades-banned-league-tables.html
Sunday Times: al-Madinah governor relatives' conflicts of interest
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Education/article1326961.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2013_10_12
SUNDAY TIMES: "BRITAIN’S first Muslim free school paid almost £95,000 to an organisation that employs relatives of some of its governors, The Sunday Times has learnt.
"The sum is understood to have been paid by al-Madinah School in Derby, which is funded by the taxpayer, to All Services Management Solutions (ASMS), a management services company, despite cheaper quotes from at least one other firm.'
SUNDAY TIMES: "BRITAIN’S first Muslim free school paid almost £95,000 to an organisation that employs relatives of some of its governors, The Sunday Times has learnt.
"The sum is understood to have been paid by al-Madinah School in Derby, which is funded by the taxpayer, to All Services Management Solutions (ASMS), a management services company, despite cheaper quotes from at least one other firm.'
Special Adviser Dominic Cummings
UPDATE:
http://www.bionews.org.uk/page_357970.asp
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/11/gove-adviser-thesis-inflammatory-ideas-education
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/11/dominic-cummings-genius-menace-michael-gove
The paper: http://static.guim.co.uk/ni/1381763590219/-Some-thoughts-on-education.pdf
"Although we understand some systems well enough to make precise or statistical predictions, most interesting systems - whether physical, mental, cultural, or virtual - are complex, nonlinear, and have properties that emerge from feedback between many interactions. Exhaustive searches of all possibilities are impossible. Unfathomable and unintended consequences dominate. Problems cascade. Complex systems are hard to understand, predict and control."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2455623/Michael-Gove-advisor-Dominic-Cummings-claims-Genetics-outweighs-teaching.html
http://www.bionews.org.uk/page_357970.asp
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/11/gove-adviser-thesis-inflammatory-ideas-education
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/11/dominic-cummings-genius-menace-michael-gove
The paper: http://static.guim.co.uk/ni/1381763590219/-Some-thoughts-on-education.pdf
"Although we understand some systems well enough to make precise or statistical predictions, most interesting systems - whether physical, mental, cultural, or virtual - are complex, nonlinear, and have properties that emerge from feedback between many interactions. Exhaustive searches of all possibilities are impossible. Unfathomable and unintended consequences dominate. Problems cascade. Complex systems are hard to understand, predict and control."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2455623/Michael-Gove-advisor-Dominic-Cummings-claims-Genetics-outweighs-teaching.html
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