Academies- would you sign this?

[AGrandUsername]

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/124747

All schools are to become academies within the next 6 years.

Obviously do your own research, but I do think this is important to be heard on.

-If your child is in primary the chances are your school is LA controlled, and it's improving

-If your child is in secondary they are probably in an academy, and it's either too new to tell, or not improving

-Qualified teacher status is to go, heads (business leaders themselves) can decide if you can teach. Not a qualification in child development in sight

-Each academy can represent 5 million pounds going from an LA to private business in land deeds. Plus profit.

-Academies don't need to follow the National Curriculum, and why would you when testing is so narrow? Art? Why? And yes, it is already happening in places

-Academies are NOT a proven formula to success, already chains have failed, and good schools have to reason to change


Schools are really heading to a bad place, away from research, child needs etc to a business model. The changes are not bourne from evidence, reasearch, good practise but political agendas. Like most teachers I support change when the goals are clear and it's in the interest of children. Like many I'm not even in a union, so that argument doesn't wash....

[Felyne]

Is there anywhere that provides a good unbiased explanation of the pros and cons (not that it matters since this government says it's happening anyway...)
My gut feeling is that it's bad but I can't find much that isn't written with the authors' own beliefs coming through, that I can actually understand.

[Felyne]

*pros and cons of converting to academies I mean

[Sallystyle]

I'm torn.

I have two children in an academy school and it was a great school. Then the head left, and the new one came in, sacked loads of teachers and for over 6 months my children have been taught by supply teachers. There is no stability and the children are doing worse than ever with their education due to having no regular teachers, although they have hired a few now but it's not enough.

Could this have been prevented if it wasn't an academy? Genuine question as I don't know much about it all. They have gone from one of the best schools to one of the worst in the area and if it is related to it being an academy I will happily sign it. Apparently the head had to sack lots of teachers due to the school being in financial difficulty.

One of mine is doing his GCSE's and he doesn't know who is teacher is going to be from one day to the next. He is failing in one of the subjects he previously excelled at.

I had parent evening with a teacher who had met my son once.

[TheSnowFairy]

I don't think the status (academy or not) makes a school great or not.

The headteacher is the key.

[AGrandUsername]

greyponcho- not all authorities top slice budgets nowadays, schools can freely choose services in many (like mine). Some even buy into neighbouring authorities as the best option, over academy chains available for purely business reasons.

Schools are already free to join MATs etc, why should ALL change. Not ALL need to,.

Lastly right now academies have extra cash yes, this can't be sustained if ALL schools convert.

[curren]

Ds is in an LA primary that's not improving it the same as its always been.

Dd is in a secondary academy that has been outstanding for years. It's gets better each year. How are you measuring 'getting better'?

I don't recognise either of my kids in your situations. How can you claim all LA schools are getting better?

[AGrandUsername]

To be clear, this is not a petition saying no school should be an academy, it can of course work!

It is not the key for every school though. Will a change in status really fix every issue, it's not a magic wand, nor is it always the right option. Why change outstanding schools? Improving LAs? Baby....bathwater....

[ghostyslovesheep]

signed

www.independent.co.uk/voices/thank-god-our-schools-have-finally-been-set-free-by-our-national-free-spirit-george-osborne-a6937016.html

this explaines my views well!

[cingolimama]

Creeping, of course specialist knowledge doesn't equate to good teaching. Neither does a "teaching qualification".

[Iamcheeseman]

The point is the removal of choice to become an academy. I work at a primary that has been outstanding for a long time. 2 years ago the staff and governors considered long and hard whether to become an academy or not and decided it was not in the best interests of the school to do so. Now we have no choice.

There is also a lack of teachers in this country. It won't be good teachers teaching your children. It won't be subject specialists teaching your children. It will be anyone willing to do so!