Would you send your DC to an academy?

[CamillaRose]

As the title says. Our two nearest schools are academies. I don’t know anything about it really but from the media I’ve got the idea that academies are poorer schools? I’m considering sending DC to a non-academy school further away. This school is rated Good, as were both academies before they converted.

I don’t know anything about it really but from the media
Which media? Left wing politicians and press were against academies for a long time, and Corbyn's Labour was very against them. There was a lot of negative rhetoric, much of it exaggerated.
They're just schools that are run by non-profit trusts rather than local authorities. Some were removed from LA control because they were doing badly, and others chose to remove themselves because they thought their LA did a poor job. In our area, we had a Conservative controlled council which actively encouraged schools to academise, with their support. The LA sells services to the academies, so they are still actively involved, just with a different model of provision, and the schools can choose whether to buy their services or not.

My DCs primary school recently converted to an academy trust headed up by a private school. It's been great for the school, day to day nothing has changed for the kids but they now have access to the amazing sport and performing arts facilities, and the private school buses them around for school trips. It's a small rural school so this is a great benefit for them. All schools will be academies soon anyway

Please could someone explain what exactly is an academy?

Don’t all schools have to report to the LA?

I am too old for this!

@Bloose Nope. Lots have now opted out of LA control and either formed their own Academy chain with other schools or joined a bigger one. Look up Lumen learning trust, The Elliot Foundation, the Harris Academy trust or GLF schools as a starting point. There are hundreds of Academies now, some just one school and some huge chains.

@Bloose

Please could someone explain what exactly is an academy?

Don’t all schools have to report to the LA?

I am too old for this!

An academy is a school that receives its funding direct from the government rather than via the LA. It is run by an academy trust, which is a charity. It does not have to follow the national curriculum (although most stick very close to it) and can set its own term times and admissions policy.

Schools do not report to the LA. How much the LA is involved in a school depends on the type of school. Academies have the lowest level of LA involvement of any schools.

I’ve taught at 2 LA schools and one academy. One LA school was great, one was truly awful and the academy is wonderful. Visit the school and see what you think and don’t rely on lazy press stereotypes (all LA schools are certainly not free thinking and community minded much as all academies are not overly strict draconian institutions.) it depends on the academy near you…

All the schools in our area are academies including DS’s grammar school so yes, we have no choice. DS’s school is far from a failing school though!

I did.

Biggest mistake of my life.

But then again there are awful state schools too.

Visit the schools, ask specific questions about things that matter to you. Judge them on your answers. (I did this too but in hindsight how they answered should have been a red flag).

And remember you have the choice to remove your child if they aren't happy.

I will add to balance it out the 3 worst performing schools in my area are all academies! 2 of them also have awful pastoral care.

But then again there are awful state schools too.

Academies are state schools. They just get their funding directly from the government rather than from the LA.

It really has no bearing on the quality of the school. All schools are different.

@AlexaShutUp

But then again there are awful state schools too.

Academies are state schools. They just get their funding directly from the government rather than from the LA.

It really has no bearing on the quality of the school. All schools are different.

Yes badly worded.

But there was such evidence when my son was in an academy of the lack of control the la have over them. Especially in our case (and the many cases of the families still having to remove their children) when it comes to send.

Especially in our case (and the many cases of the families still having to remove their children) when it comes to send

For clarity, the LA is responsible for ed psych, SEN assessment and statementing, monitoring of SEN provision and SEN resources for pupils with rare conditions. It is responsible for these things in all state funded schools, including academies. That doesn't unfortunately, guarantee that an academy will deal with SEN pupils correctly but the LA has just as little control over other types of school.

In general I’d be absolutely fine with a converter academy. Ideally I’d try to avoid academy chains if at all possible, especially those with a super strict/zero tolerance ethos. Before applying I’d look very carefully at the academy founders/sponsors and mission statement and consider what their wider agenda might be.

You wouldn’t have much choice round here, certainly not at secondary level.