Conversion Academy

Blue_Monkey

What is this academy thing and why is it being brought in?? (Just curious really... I left school 13 years ago and don't have kids of my own, so just interested to hear what it's all about!)

melancholly

if the LEAs effectively disappear over the next few years, since they won't be needed if academies spring up everywhere, what does this mean for 'difficult' students? will there be any body who will have to ensure that children with behavioural difficulties still get educated or will they fall through the cracks? (no-one wants a disruptive student in their child's school, but at the same time, is there a concern that no-one will try and make sure an education is achieved - i'm assuming that the parents wouldn't be able to do this!). if everything ends up as an academy in the end anyway, then is there a point? could they just reform LEAs instead? i am confused about it all!

jog

We were told that the Special Needs dept at the LEA's are the one bit that will remain with dedicated funding and that the academy schools will get additional funding for those children who require a statement a bit like they do now. The other dept that will remainis the one that deals with school entry applications.

Jog

Nic_Cohen

Hi all

New to this... Funny enough a company I did some work for recently has a tone of up to date information on their website about Academy Conversions, if you go to the news section of the site "bakersmall" there is an array of up to date bits about the local authorities take on it and the legalities...

I hope this is of interest and relevance!!

Regards

Nic

tori.k

CHRISSYG wrote: »

the problems arise when a child has SEN as academys are not accountable to the LEA. I withdrew my dd from the academy 18 months in, a lot of staff left when it converted including a very good senco they were replaced by less experienced staff who seemed to be more concerned about money than anything else. in the 1st yr she was there there wasnt a single conversation about cost of assesments but that changed and even with parent partnership support they did not follow through on even the most basic of things they had agreed to .

We had the same kind of issue when our became an academys, they cut back on the TA/SEN areas,
our youngest has TA support he is statmented and only does a part-time curriculum if his TA is off then he has to stay home not great when he's in his gcse years, they are outside the LEA control so it like it or lump it

tyllwyd

My daughter's school is an outstanding school which converted to an academy - to be honest, we haven't noticed any difference. The headteacher presented it as 'we are going to do what we've always done, but with a bit more control over our own budget' and from an outsider's point of view, that's what they've done.

LandyAndy

tyllwyd wrote: »

My daughter's school is an outstanding school which converted to an academy - to be honest, we haven't noticed any difference. The headteacher presented it as 'we are going to do what we've always done, but with a bit more control over our own budget' and from an outsider's point of view, that's what they've done.

Yes. That's pretty much the same as my sons' school.

Cat501

tori.k wrote: »

We had the same kind of issue when our became an academys, they cut back on the TA/SEN areas,
our youngest has TA support he is statmented and only does a part-time curriculum if his TA is off then he has to stay home not great when he's in his gcse years, they are outside the LEA control so it like it or lump it

That's absolutely appalling:mad:

It's creeping privatisation and all about money and business. I'm glad it's not an issue up here - if I'd wanted my kids to go to private school I'd have sent them to one.

Lunar_Eclipse

tyllwyd wrote: »

My daughter's school is an outstanding school which converted to an academy - to be honest, we haven't noticed any difference. The headteacher presented it as 'we are going to do what we've always done, but with a bit more control over our own budget' and from an outsider's point of view, that's what they've done.

Same here. DD's school converted last Spring.

They've introduced the higher level 6 Maths SATS paper for some children in Y6, which is the only change I can think of and might have happened anyway (supposedly they used to do it years ago.)

The reality has been invisible to us. Very smooth 'transition.'

thegirlintheattic

Our school chose to become an academy as the LEA was pressuring us to make changes which would have led to some of our minority students (not ethnically I should add) not getting as good a service as they currently do. Nothing really has changed except we now have more control over money and have been able to make big curriculum changes as we don't have to worry about the NC anymore. Hasn't affected the students at all.