How can ex-privates, now Academies, keep the same T&Cs?

[LittenTree]

Sorry if this has been done before, but- how can a struggling private school be allowed to become an Academy- yet still retain its long holidays and small class sizes (but presumably longer days as required by 'number of contact hours, teaching, per term')? I know they lose control of their admissions, but, one reason some parents go state is that they can't manage 9 week private holiday cover, for instance, so, if your only viable local school preference is an ex private, you get saddled with those T&Cs, don't you?

And how is it OK that my DC sit in classes of 30 whereas those DC sit in classes of 20?

Well if you know of ex-private schools which can keep their school going with 20 in a class and only the state funding (no fees anymore), and be viable long term, then I would be surprised.

But there are!

I believe Colston Girls School in Bristol has done this- but I will be ready to be corrected! There was also someone on MN recently who asked advice as to whether she should move her Y6 or 7 (?) DD to another school as to increase her chances of getting into a new Academy, ex-private, where there'd be 23 DDs in the class- Newcastle?

That's where my info comes from!

There's lots of stuff about this on localschoolsnetwork.org.uk - such schools attempting to retain aspects of the old school and finding themselves unable to do it because it flouts fair admissions etc. There was one called Langley Hall (I think) that wanted to offer as one of the top criteria for reception entry the attendance of the private on-site nursery. This was disallowed.
In terms of class size, I agree with mummy time, they might find this a struggle with the money they're given by the state. I know that's what they're telling their parents and I suppose if they can manage their funding like this then that's great for them but I'd rather have the very best teachers than smaller classes.
I know we're always being told how much the state system should learn from the independent system but I think it will be interesting to see how (presumably failing) private schools cope with less money, bigger classes and without the powers to exclude any tricky pupils.

I have heard at least one interview with a head who was converting from private to Academy, and he made it very clear that the small class sizes would not be retained.

They may be able to keep the very long holidays, as many Academies do offer very long school days and so would meet the minimum amount of time taught requirement, but I suspect many will go to a more state-type timetable for holidays too.

Yet again, the public purse has to bail out the struggling private sector.

All under the umbrella of the 'free market'. If the private school is struggling because it's not pleasing its customers, why not let the market decide and close it down?

As far as I know class sizes have gone up in both the Bristol schools that have gone from private to academy status. Both schools have also expanded overall, so they are not as small and cosy as they were before.

They do still sometimes have different holidays from other Bristol state schools, but I think all academies can set their own hours and holidays, and there are now not that many non-academy secondaries left in Bristol, Holidays may soon be all over the place.

You see, the staggered holidays bit is such a backward step! Holiday childcare for working parents is already a major nightmare, and now these academies are allowed to step in and make it worse still!