SLT heavy academy schools.

[blackbettybramblejam]

I have worked in a small rural primary school for several years since qualifying as a primary teacher.
Recently I have started working in a large 4 form entry primary school (academy) and have found the adjustment quite hard.

1. In 6 months I have only met the head teacher once at interview (via Zoom) and once incidentally on the playground one afternoon for a couple of minutes.
2. The SLT (of which there are loads) seem to all sit in their offices all day and don’t have anything to do with us teachers apart from emailing us asking for x,y,z to be done regardless of how many TAs we have.

3.SLT are constantly demanding very in depth analysis of childrens’ levels and attainment and are always asking us to collect very time consuming data.

1. If a teacher is ill or resigns they don’t ever cover the classes, they just get a TA to cover for weeks on end or a different supply teacher each day.

Is this normal academy life?

I don’t feel it really suits me.

Sadly I think there are many schools like this I don't think your experience is restricted to academy trusts. It seems to me that SLT quickly distance themselves from the classroom as soon as they climb the career ladder. I often wonder how much teaching experience these SLT members have let alone leadership experience.

Give yourself a little longer to settle in, as you make friends among your colleagues you may adjust to your new surrounds.

I agree with you about academy heavy SLT and the even more shocking salaries of CEO's. That's why head teachers are shared amongst schools and a downgraded head of school is in place in many.
Awful state of affairs that no one seems to be concerned about.

I don't agree with hands off head teachers. I have headteachers in small maintained schools that teach half of the week as well as lead the school.

I am appalled by it. The children have a patch work quilt of various supply teachers/ TAs and teachers. No one really taking ownership of the class, the books are dog eared and not very good quality. All the while CEOs and SLT are in their comfortable offices, drinking coffees and chatting. I don’t think it’s a child centred model, it’s like a glorified pyramid scheme and the children are at the bottom.

Yes, I can add about funding. An academy trust near us have an advert out for a new CEO - £120-130,000 per year to lead 10 small schools....whilst the PTA of one school are sending begging letters to parents to 'buy a book' for school because there is no money. Shocking.

The same level of leadership in a local authority - say a head of school improvement or even an assistant director with 300 schools here earns around £70- 80,000 HoS and maybe £90,000 as the AD - but for 300 schools, not 10. The AD has a much wider remit too, adult learning,social care etc not just schools.

And Gavin is pushing the academy agenda again.

And Gavin is pushing the academy agenda again.

It's just another way to get public money into the private sector. If it ends up in the pockets of their mates then even better.

LEAs weren't and aren't brilliant and do need work but the MAT system is much worse.