Eight schools declare academy interest

Eight schools across Oldham have expressed an interest to the Government in becoming academies.

Last month, Education Secretary Michael Gove wrote to every primary, secondary and special school in the country and invited them to register their interest.

At the time, he vowed to fast-track schools rated by Ofsted inspectors as outstanding, allowing them to re-open as academies in September.

After a Freedom of Information request, the Department for Education (DfE) published a list of 828 schools that had expressed an interest. It included St Chad’s CE Primary School, Uppermill; St Joseph’s RC, Shaw; Limeside Primary School; Mills Hill Primary School, Chadderton; Glodwick Infants and Nursery; and The Blue Coat School, Oldham.

The DfE stressed that the schools had only expressed an interest, rat-her than making a formal application, but added that officials could begin discussions immediately with schools keen to pursue academy status.

Hundreds of other schools from across the country that were not rated outstanding also expressed an interest — including New Bridge School, Hollinwood, and Saddleworth School — but these are likely to have to improve their standards before they are granted the status, a DfE spokesman said.

The Government, which is removing local authority powers to block schools that want to become academies, is planning to oversee a dramatic expansion of the academies programme, which — under Labour — was focused on replacing struggling schools in poorer areas.

Academies can expect to receive roughly 10 per cent more funding — direct from central government — than they currently get from their local education authority. They would also run their own finances, and curriculum, and could be managed by outside companies.
Academies Minister Lord Hill said: “There is no pressure for any school to convert by September, and they can do so at any time when they feel they are ready. We want schools to decide what’s best for them, not politicians or bureaucrats.”

But teachers‚ unions and the Labour Party have warned that a mass academy programme would give some schools extra resources at the expense of others near by, creating a two-tier system.

General secretary of the National Union of Teachers Christine Blower said those interested represented a tiny percentage of schools.

She said: “The vast majority are extremely wary of cutting themselves free from their local community of schools and from the in depth support and advice provided by their local authority.”