Focus on ….expansion of Academy Chains

14th March 2012

A couple of years ago, there were only a handful of academy chains and very few people, outside of the immediate vicinity in which they operated, would recognise their names.  Now, chains of schools are increasingly becoming a significant feature of the education landscape in England.

 

To chart their rise and explore the implications of more and more schools becoming part of a chain, the National College commissioned a large scale report that was released last week. Led by policy analyst Robert Hill, the report examines the expansion of 48 “sponsored chains” of three or more academies and the 122 “converter chains".

 

Please click here for a summary of the report.

 

The report has been broadly welcomed by Union leaders.  ASCL General Secretary Brian Lightman said,
“This report is an informative and timely analysis of the growing influence of this model of school organisation. It is evident that there is a great deal to learn and share from successful practice in academy chains but it is equally helpful that the report highlights the challenges and pitfalls to be avoided. The report will help us to harness those characteristics which have the greatest impact."

 

And NAHT General Secretary Russell Hobby commented: “The future lies in schools working together. That is without doubt and this report is a valuable contribution to understanding how this might work. There are many models for collaboration, however, and it would be wrong to rely exclusively on the sponsored academy chain. They have their place in the menu of solutions, but they are not a silver bullet and not guaranteed success: other federations, trusts and collaborations are all shown to work."

 

However, Association of Teachers and Lecturers General Secretary Mary Bousted criticised the report for failing to ask "key questions about chains".
She said: "The report describes a wide variety of practice in these new organisations, but ignores the trend towards the imposition on teachers of standard and sometimes inappropriate curriculum models and methods of teaching."

 

Bousted also voiced concerns that the lines of accountability within a chain were still unclear for parents. "Sponsors and leaders have to answer to no-one, but if parents’ concerns are not answered by the school, who do they turn to?"

 

The research is particularly timely in the week that a private provider established by two City financiers, announced plans to run 2,000 schools. According to the TES, Clarendon Academies has held lengthy discussions with the Department for Education (DfE) and believes that by managing 10% of state schools it would generate financial surpluses that would be ploughed back into education and teachers’ pay including the introduction of John Lewis-style bonuses for staff.

 

What’s your view? Is the expansion of academy chains a good thing? Email your thoughts to think@schoolsnortheast.com