Could academies spell the end of state-provided education?

[Cloudminnow]

This is what the NUT says ... Would it matter if this was the case? Do pupils benefit or suffer if their school converts to an academy? If it makes no difference, who benefits from the change, if anyone?

Talkinpeace

Im not sure what you mean. These are for-profit organisations. Many are fee-for-service often incentivised by central government whether that is GPs providing immunisations / family planning or academies in Hackney driving up standards.

Profit is not a dirty word. As an example, your salary is paid for out of predominantly private sector profit, whether that is corporate/employee/self-employed taxation. This needs to be differentiated from public sector taxation which is recycling.

Profit doesn't even drive success in the independent schools sector. The most successful and popular schools are charitable trusts or federations. Some private equity firms have made money out of property portfolios but not since the recession during which several private schools have closed or been sold off. In Sweden where free school operators have been able to make profits several chains have gone bust and schools have closed, disrupting communities and children's lives. Sweden has been falling down the PISA league table since their free school policy was introduced.