Sigh! It's so much more than a name change. Im really not an expert either

But I thint they are basically handing schools over to 'trusts' and thus severing the links with local councils. The trusts can be run by highly paid board members and terms and conditions for teachers can change.

I work in a good primary and like most primary schools, we have not seen the need to become an academy. Most primaries I know like working as part of a cluster, supported by the LA. Academisation is something that's going to be forced on us at huge cost and upheaval for the political whim of this government. They've done everything they can to 'encourage' primaries to become academies and most have not been interested, when that didn't work, they've announced this white paper - out of the blue. Their arguments make no logical sense though, as something like 85% of primary schools are good or outstanding and are not academies. They have also passed the most ridiculous and controversial new curriculum that we're all trying to get to grips with and now thy are saying, become an academy so you can be free to teach what you like.

I trust and hope if/when we did/ do become an academy, we'd keep all the good things about our school and kids/parents would not see a change - but who knows? And I think that's what we're worried about.

Sorry for the rant. I'm probably not the most reasoned person to ask. (Good job you didn't ask me about my views on the assessment tests for this year's seven and eleven year olds by the way!)

Posted By: Bravo win or die, Mar 27, 16:05:32