Facts and figures on academies are very difficult to obtain. Unlike all other schools maintained by the taxpayer, academies are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, so the only information available is what they choose to publish or that which is published by the government, and is often misleading. Parents of pupils at academies have no represention on the board of governors and no means of influencing the educational policies and practices of the school. They do not even have the right to be told what these policies and practices are. What is the reason for such secrecy?
The following GCSE performance data for all academies was prised from the DfES by means of the Freedom of Information Act. The department is still refusing to provide subject-based results for individual academies. The percentage of pupils entered for GCSE/GNVQ who obtained A*-C grades in 2005 were: English and maths: 17%; English and maths and science: 11%; English and maths and science and a modern language: 5%. Any comprehensive school with results like these would be at risk of being replaced by an academy.
The Guardian -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/jun/16/mainsection.guardianletters1
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Please be aware that whilst you have the right to voice your opinions, you cannot claim to be the voice of Unity College. You certainly do not share my voice! Whilst I am not prepared to make issues personal, against either yourselves, the former head, the diocese or the school;I feel aggrieved to find you outside the school gates this morning lobbying my child. It was my understanding that Mrs Gwynne had to unfortunately reapply for her own job, but like any other applying for a job - she has an equal opportunity to prove herself suitable for it. Someone else was successful in getting this position and therefore she will not continue as head. Whilst it might be disappointing for you as a group, its life! Just as it is life, that successful teaching staff will always seek to better themselves in employment with Unity or other educational establishments. Using 'whether it is an Academy or not' at the end of a statement is neutral and does not prove your point!?!? I do not believe that anything is an instant fix, but division is divisive and whilst you bite the hand that feeds you will only have a negative effect on the smooth running of the school and in the process divert necessary attention away from the matter at hand, how to best support our children!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, this is all about the children. In case you hadn't noticed it is the Diocese and Local Authority who have managed to drag the school down from 'notice to improve' into 'special measures'. These are the main sponsors of the Academy project. Some parents care not just about their own child but all the children in the school.
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