Academy schools charging for some lessons

[auckland63]

Teaching unions alarmed by a news report that an academy primary school plans to charge for some lessons. NASUWT says it will create divisions between those families that can afford to pay for extra lessons and those who can't.
www.exaronews.com/articles/4822/academy-prepares-to-charge-for-lessons-on-national-curriculum ?

I couldn't open the link.

Try this...

www.exaronews.com/articles/4822/academy-prepares-to-charge-for-lessons-on-national-curriculum

I could only read the summary, but I would be extremely surprised and concerned if fees for NC subjects was legal.

They can get away with it because the legislation surrounding academies has been so loosely drawn up by the Government. Maybe deliberately so.

Under the standard funding agreement used for academies they are bound by the same restrictions on charging as other types of school. They may not charge registered pupils for any activity that is part of the national curriculum.

Of course, LA-controlled schools have from time to time attempted to charge parents illegally. I would not be surprised if some academies do the same so there may be some truth in this story. But if it goes ahead as reported the academy will clearly be in breach of its funding agreement.

The Yorkshire Post has followed up this academy charging for lessons story so you can read it on the newspaper's site. www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at-a-glance/education/academy-under-fire-over-lunch-activity-charges-1-5376718

This for extra-curricular activities - don't count as lessons.