Academy head who 'added a year' to pupil learning time gives evidence in parliament

From They Work For You: heads give evidence re Deregulation Bill:

Andy Grace (head of Boulevard Academy in Hull - a free school): The total amount of time that we have is more than 300 hours in an academic year, in addition to what we would normally expect. That is the equivalent of six additional teaching weeks. Over the five years that a youngster is at the academy, that is almost an extra school year of teaching and learning time.

Heads should train to be Ofsted inspectors

From York Press:


According to John Tomsett: “A clear message from Sir Michael and Mr Cladingbowl was for head teachers to train as Ofsted inspectors so that all inspections have a serving senior leader on the team, and even consider becoming one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors."

Another interesting Ofsted-related story came from Laura McInerney: What do you notice about this free school monitoring form?

Head retires less than a year after conversion

From the Hexham Courant

Head of Haltwhistle Community Campus (a multi-academy trust since Sept 2013), Mike Routledge, will retire in the summer after a successful 13 years at the helm.

Griffin Trust's missing head remains a mystery despite Mr Gove's promises

From the Worcester News


The paper said Mr Gove: 'admitted his shock over the situation at Perry Wood... When asked if he could get answers he replied: “Yes, absolutely we will. I didn’t know this had been going on at all and I am very grateful to you for bringing it to my attention...

£50m Suffolk academy submits planning application

From EADT:

A formal planning application for the Suffolk New Academy in Ipswich has been made to the borough council for the new school building. It is being built on the existing site – formally the Chantry High School – and principal Andrew Fell said it would be a major challenge to ensure the Academy could continue to operate while the work is under way.

E-ACT's Tottenham free school could be handed to new sponsor

From the Tottenham Journal:

Hartsbrook E-ACT Free School may be handed to another academy chain sponsor by its owners under orders of the Department for Education, less than 18 months after opening.

Special measures school considers academy status

(UPDATE APRIL 29 2014 Basildon Recorder: Woodlands School, Basildon... now considering 'teaming up with the Appleton School... which would sponsor them... Appleton headteacher is Karen Kerridge who is executive headteacher at Woodlands'  - Appleton is a Business and Enterprise Colleges, its main sponsor is the Arcadia Group.)

Brentwood County High School (Where Karen was brought in as temporary head in 2012 is consulting on converting - )

From the Basildon Recorder:

Former head Andy White left his role at the Woodlands School, Basildon, after Ofsted inspectors criticised it for weak teaching and falling standards in December – and said he had covered up how bad things were.

Academy chain welcomes idea of Ofsted inspections

From the Bristol Post:

The paper said: 'The most dominant groups are national outfits Oasis and E-Act, which together preside over nine schools in the Bristol area, and large regional chain Cabot Learning Federation (CLF), which has a stable of 10 academies.'

E-act stripped of 10 academies

From the Daily Telegraph:


The paper reported: 'E-ACT, a charity that sponsors 34 state-funded schools, is handing control of 10 back to the Government after a series of inspections by Ofsted unearthed weaknesses.

Harris Federation scraps mixed ability classes

From the Daily Telegraph:

The Telegraph said: Daniel Moynihan...'Revealed that mixed-ability teaching had been all but scrapped in Harris academies in favour of a system of setting and streaming because it is “almost impossible” to teach children of differing academic ability in the same lesson...

Harris chief criticises council and opposition to academies

From the Telegraph:

 The paper said: Sir Daniel Moynihan, chief executive of the Harris Federation, said his organisation had encountered “very, very heavy resistance” in its attempts to intervene to raise standards in many areas despite widespread failure.

Academy publishes response to claims it discriminates against non-muslim staff

On the question of discrimination against non-muslim members Park View Academy's response said: 'Park View strictly complies with its recruitment policy which is fully compliant with legal requirements and is observant of fairness and meritocracy in process and practice.

This was a response to a story in the Daily Mail and the Sunday Times

Council demands free school employs qualified teachers

From the Standard:


A London council is demanding that a new free school employs only qualified teachers — despite not having any powers to do so.

Council opposes kent grammar/free school saying it exceeds demand

From Seven Oaks Chronicle:

Sevenoaks District Council is opposing plans to create a new grammar and a free school in the town.

Ex-Cameron adviser follows the data to where free schools are needed

From Get West London:

'We set up the charity seven months ago and started off by looking at studies by the Greater London Assembly into where in the capital was in most need of primary schools...'

Floreat Education... is solely focused on opening up new primary free schools across London, and Brentford (Hounslow) is one of the first places it is hoping to do this. (It has also taken over an academy in Wandsworth/Earlsfield)