Poor Prospects For Academy Schools

[Gromit]

Another of Mr Gove's pet projects seems to be in difficulties. Academies were supposed to raise standards, and more importantly take them into private ownership (well trusts) that were out of the control of local authorities. Instead they are still poor schools, run by well meaning, but hopelessly useless ex-Local Authority Officers with no business acumen, as in this case. They have had disproportionately more money spent on them so they are a poor deal for the taxpayer, and standards are no better than the local authority controlled schools they replaced.

// An academy chain in charge of running six state schools became the first in the country to fold today - forcing a sudden hunt for new sponsors to take them over.

The Prospects Academies Trust, which runs six schools in Paignton, Bexhill and Gloucestershire, was one of 14 chains told by the Government it could not take on any new schools because of concerns over standards.

Two of the schools it ran were in “special measures”, having been declared “inadequate” by education standards watchdog Ofsted.//

http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/first-academy-chain-closes-leaving-the-fates-of-six-schools-in-the-balance-9398957.html

Do you agree that our children deserve better than this fiasco of a failed policy?

[Gromit]

// None of it would have been necessary if the education system had not been all but destroyed by Labour tinkereing between 1997 and 2000. //

Oh dear, I'm going to sound like a cheerleader for Blair, which is the last thing I want to do, but I cannot let such tripe go without comment.

Under the last Labour Government spending on Education increased year on year by 5%. A huge rebuilding programme (funded by the dreaded PFI) meant thousands of schools were improved, and facilities were expanded. There were more teachers than ever before and teacher-pupil ratios were the best for decades. Academic results improved constistantly over the decade and teacher strike days were at their lowest.

The result however was a costly legacy which we could ill afford after the financial collapse. Gove's reforms were about taking Government control of budgets and cutting them.

[Gromit]

Academic results improved

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48586000/gif/_48586347_ks2_stats.gif

[Quizmonster]

See what I mean, Gromit? Their attitude is, "Let's concentrate on what we think was bad about some aspect of Labour education policy in the past and steer clear of any worthwhile comment on what this post is actually about NOW."

[Quizmonster]

Sorry, G, I didn't see your two answers above before I started on my response.

[ToraToraTora]

academic results improved, yes they tend to when the exams are easier. Tell me they haven't found o level questions in A level papers. Exam results inproved every year for 15 years, statistically anyone with CSE in maths will tell you that is statistically impossible.

[Svejk]

spending up- great
pfi- brilliant
academic results improved constistantly- i'll have to take your word on that. ;-/

[mushroom25]

education has been the political plaything of every government since 1963, dating back to the Plowden Report - no administration since need feel left out, they've all subjected schools to the latest fads and thinking and associated major re-organization and upheaval. they just can't leave it alone. free schools is only the latest, expect the next "big thing" in education to come with whoever wins the next election.

[New Judge]

"Under the last Labour Government spending on Education increased year on year by 5%"

Once again, Gromit, the classic politicians' equivalence of spending with success. Also, under the last Labour government, GP's pay went up by around 50%. A success? I don't think so because along with the spend went the ability of GPs to opt out of out-of-hours service. My GP surgery is certainly not 50% better than it was ten years ago.

It's not how much is spent but HOW it is spent. Quite honestly the last organisations anybody in their right mind would trust to have anything to do with education are local authorities. Some of them are reasonably adept at emptying dustbins (though many of them are not) but that's about it. Quite how they ever got hold of the responsibility for education is beyond me.

Having said that the penultimate choice for control of education must be central government. Education is one of the many things that the government thinks it is best placed to provide when it is manifestly clear that they are not. All education should be provided by private companies with the skills necessary to educate children to a decent level. Parents should be provided with vouchers to spend at education establishments of their choice. Those establishments that succeed will be chosen by parents for their little darlings. Those that don’t will go to the wall (though they may still find a place providing “containment” for the many disruptive children who make it very difficult for those who want to learn to do so).

Ultimately the tax and state budget system should be adjusted to make an education budget unnecessary and leave parents free to spend their own cash on the education of their choice. Yes, there will be practical problems with this but the issue needs to be tackled because so long as government has any say over education it will always be a shambles.

[ToraToraTora]

It's the socialist way judge, any problem can be fixed by throwing other peoples money at it, simples!

[Quizmonster]

And STILL on about "the socialist way" with no comment on the success or otherwise of the Tory policy on academies, as evidenced by the actual news of the Prospects Academies Trust in the OP.

[ToraToraTora]

that was because gromit seemed to equate spending wih success.

[Svejk]

bring back grammar schools. They gave this country real social mobility, including, I think, 5 GS PMs in a row. Now, through the law of unintended consequences, we've returned to a land of pre-war privilege and elitism.

[naomi24]

//bring back grammar schools//

I'll second that!!

[pixie373]

I agree (they still exist though). Although i went to a grammar school and it was very narrow -minded in only being interested in academic qualifications and university (esp Oxbridge). They aren't very rounded.
Btw, schools seem to be losing academy status just as quickly now? I've heard of quite a few that haven't measured up, so shouldn't it mean better standards?