ATL on academy sponsors

“Becoming an academy is not right for all schools.  Every school should be allowed to decide what is best for its pupils and staff following consultation with parents, governors and staff.

“The Government will be denying parents and staff a say if the only option for struggling schools is to become an academy with the sponsor chosen by the Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs).  And there is still no evidence that academies raise standards more than any other school.  The Education Select Committee said it’s too early to know whether academies raise standards and the Public Accounts Committee revealed that 18 academies chains have been stopped from expanding because of concerns about the standards in their academies.

“The quality of academy sponsors varies hugely and, unless the Government allows academy chains to be inspected in the same way it inspects local authorities, schools cannot be sure which chain is the right sponsor for their school.  And it is not clear how RSCs will evaluate which sponsors will provide the best support for a school.  If the Government allows local authorities and maintained schools to sponsor struggling schools this would be more likely to help raise standards in struggling schools.”