Academy Flashcards
In favour of academy school
• Greater control
Greater control over their own management, including staffing and curriculum, and greater investment from sponsors
What was the policy on academy schools during the Coalition?
It extended the benefits of academy status to a larger number of schools
In favour of academy school
• Greater innovation
Those who generally support the increased use of market forces in public services would be content that more widespread academy conversion promoted greater innovation and efficiency within education generally.
In favour of academy school
• Failures of local authorities
Parents might argue that local education authorities failed to maintain or improve standards, and therefore support removing both their role and their ‘top-slicing’ of funding
In favour of academy school
• Fit parents’ requirements
The additional introduction of free schools, which automatically become academies on their creation, permit parents and other stakeholders to create schools that specifically fit their requirements.
Against academy school
• Democratic oversight
The increasing control and greater funding, including to set up Free Schools, came at the expense of democratic oversight and of schools in the greatest need
Against academy school
• Forced against their will
Larger numbers of schools have been forced to become academies against their will, due to poor Ofsted results, which themselves could be seen as politically driven
Against academy school
• Profit-making education system
The rise of ‘academy chains’ is seen as demonstrating a move towards a fully privatised profit-making education system
Against academy school
• Autonomy is not a reality
In practice the regime of Ofsted, the Department of Education and the proposed new Regional Commissioner means that the supposed autonomy of the new academies is not a reality
