Education specialist David Rawlinson on what the Academies Bill could do
THE Academies Bill has caused shockwaves throughout the country. The idea of a private company or a group of parents running a school will doubtless sit uneasily with many, but the proposals do hold some powerful opportunities for improvement to the education system.
The original Academy system was designed to benefit deprived inner- city communities, and for the large part it has done exactly that. This success can be extended to a greater number of schools under the Bill. The Bill allows schools to free themselves from the constraints of local authority regulation and partner up with other academies to share resources and help lift standards.
However, moving towards Academy status is complex now, and could become more so under the Bill. An Academy will need to establish its governing document and Board of Governors, enter into commercial contracts, take care of HR and deal with a host of other matters such as its Admissions Policy and admissions appeals. The school will become its own administrator for these and many other things, without the support previously available from the local authority.
The Academies Bill could offer great opportunities for schools, but will also create its own set of problems. If parent groups are to establish academies, they will need to be highly organised and have bundles of energy and good professional support.
