The problem with most chain academy groups is that they apply quick fixes to the schools they take over.
Like other academy providers, the AET appears to have created the appearance of rapid improvement. Under New Labour a series of GCSE ?equivalent? courses were introduced where qualifications were counted as equivalent to 2, 3 or 4 GCSEs. This was used by many schools, but particularly academies, to boost their GCSE rankings. The government recently removed 3,000 GCSE equivalents. While many schools? rankings were affected by this, it was particularly so in academy chains. When the equivalents are removed, the average drop for all maintained schools nationally is 6% for 5 A*-Cs with English and Maths, from 59.1% with equivalents to 53.2% without equivalents.
The AET has 7 academies which entered pupils for GCSEs in 2011, of which 4 had been AET schools when they sat GCSEs in 2010. The results show that all the AET academies saw a significant drop, compared to the national average, and only Greensward is above the national average for GCSE results without equivalents.
Academy Name
Results in 2010
Claimed GCSE A*-C with English and Maths 2011
- Result adjusted to remove equivalents 2011
@ % Drop in results
2010 - # - * - @
Greensward Academy
65 - 72 - 57-15
New Rickstones Academy
40 -40 - 29 -11
Maltings Academy
50 - 42 - 29 -13
Clacton Coastal Academy
38 -38 - 17 -21
Aylward Academy
*30 -48 - 33 -15
Nightingale Academy
*27 - 42 -28 -14
Richmond Park Academy
*40 - 43 - 39 -4
For the students, unfortunately the courses introduced are often not rated by 16+ colleges when student wish to move on, students are then often forced into other 16+ courses which won't get them into the better universities.
The groups push their own staff into the academies which often results in experienced staff leaving to be replaced by cheaper newly qualified staff. Staff recruitment is managed by the chain group often using recruiting companies with links to the chain group. Often there is a drop in overall staff numbers.
The academies have to pay a managem,ent charge to the chain group which usually doesn't cover all the services and support they previously received from the LA. The academy then has to pay extra for the services and often end up with budget problems.
The accounts of the AET make interesting reading, particularly with respect to director remuneration and board members consultation payments.
The AET has a policy of vertical growth so watch out all primary and sixth form colleges in the area.