It seems that the only certainty in education is change. In recent years, the pace of new announcements, legislation and reforms has been dizzying and there is unlikely to be much let up in 2012. Developments this year will include:
More Academies
2012 will bring an increasingly ‘mixed economy’ amongst the community of schools in our region. In some areas of the region, the majority of secondary schools are now academies or in the process of converting, whilst academies have hardly penetrated other areas. The New Year will herald many new conversions and chains of academies and school-led multi academy trusts are likely to become a growing feature of the North East educational landscape.
Academisation of ‘weak primaries’
The Government has made clear that a major priority in the coming year will be tackling ‘underperforming primary schools’ .This will include schools that are viewed to have consistently failed to improve being ‘taken over’ by other local academies or external providers.
Free Schools
Since the 2010 election, Free Schools have been one of the Government’s flagship policies. In the Autumn, we saw the first three Free Schools approved in the North East. If they are able to find suitable premises etc. these schools could open in September 2012. SCHOOLS NorthEast is hearing about new Free School bids that are in the early stages of development on a regular basis so it is likely that more new schools are on the horizon.
No new curriculum yet
Just before Christmas, the Education Secretary announced that he had postponed the new curriculum as the interim outcomes of the review had suggested much more substantial and far reaching changes than envisaged. Early indications are that a new National Curriculum now pencilled in for launch in 2013 for delivery in 2014, will include the extension of Key Stage 3, division of Key Stage two and an increase in the number of core subjects compulsory at GCSE level to include humanities, modern foreign languages and the arts. More details will emerge throughout 2012 with further consultations planned.
Changes to exams
Newspaper exposes on corruption in the exams brought the credibility of the whole system into sharp focus. The Government has launched an inquiry and reforms will follow in 2012. Few expect the current competitive relationships between exam boards run as private enterprises to continue. What should take their place is a matter of debate.
Increased Pupil Premium
The Pupil Premium that was introduced in 2011 has been increased for 2012 and schools are being increasingly inventive as to how they spend the money. For some schools, this money aimed at providing extra support for pupils from deprived backgrounds to narrow the gap in attainment, represents a significant increase in budget but for others it simply replaces the money lost through cuts in other areas. However schools choose to spend their pupil premium, the Government has made it clear that they will be held to account on the outcomes they achieve as a result of this investment. Expect a lot of discussion between Head Teachers about how they are using the Pupil Premium and what impacts they are seeing on pupil progress in 2012.
New Ofsted Framework
Near the top of most Head Teachers to do list for the early part of 2012 will be getting their heads around the new Ofsted framework that comes into effect in January (especially if you are due a call from the Inspector!). The new framework, the third in just four years, again changes the criteria and processes by which schools are judged. New Ofsted Chief, Sir Michael Wilshaw takes up his post next month and has already announced his intention to introduce no notice inspections for all standard Ofsted Inspections from September.
Continued economic pain for North East communities and challenges for young people
Finally, in terms of what is most important for our children and young people, the impact of the continued economic slump and lack of opportunities for students leaving school is the greatest worry for 2012. The scrapping of the Educational Maintenance Allowance and introduction of higher tuition fees is having an impact on the number of young people staying on in school and progressing to University. Our region has the highest levels of youth unemployment and child poverty is increasing as household incomes are squeezed.
2012 promises to be another year of upheaval and that is before you start on league tables, teaching schools, pension reforms, funding , the Olympics… …so good luck and our best wishes for the New Year and remember we are here to help so do get in touch!
