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Academy up-front payment dropped | Academy up-front payment dropped |
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The government is to make it easier for private sponsors to take over and run English state schools, in a bid to speed up its academies programme. | The government is to make it easier for private sponsors to take over and run English state schools, in a bid to speed up its academies programme. |
Instead of providing up-front funds of £2m, potential backers will now simply have to prove "the necessary skills and leadership" to run an academy. | Instead of providing up-front funds of £2m, potential backers will now simply have to prove "the necessary skills and leadership" to run an academy. |
The lowering of barriers for sponsors of these independent state schools comes as ministers open the 200th one. | |
An additional 67 academies are being opened this term. | |
Children's Secretary Ed Balls has said he wants to "attract successful charities, parents' groups and private firms" as academy sponsors. | Children's Secretary Ed Balls has said he wants to "attract successful charities, parents' groups and private firms" as academy sponsors. |
The dropping of the £2m requirement is intended to both accelerate the number of academies opening and appeal to organisations which might have been deterred by the cost. | The dropping of the £2m requirement is intended to both accelerate the number of academies opening and appeal to organisations which might have been deterred by the cost. |
Sir Cyril Taylor, Specialist Schools and Academies Trust Council: "Academies have been extraordinary" | Sir Cyril Taylor, Specialist Schools and Academies Trust Council: "Academies have been extraordinary" |
The government says academies help to break cycles of underachievement in schools in deprived areas. | The government says academies help to break cycles of underachievement in schools in deprived areas. |
They are state schools - with no fees or selection - but with an independent ethos shaped by the sponsor. | They are state schools - with no fees or selection - but with an independent ethos shaped by the sponsor. |
Since the scheme was launched in 2002, academy sponsors have included businesses, universities, faith groups and charities. | Since the scheme was launched in 2002, academy sponsors have included businesses, universities, faith groups and charities. |
The milestone of 200 academies is now a year ahead of target - with plans to open a further 200. | The milestone of 200 academies is now a year ahead of target - with plans to open a further 200. |
Mr Balls denied, on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, that the government was "rushing" to open academies at the expense of good planning. | |
He said sponsoring an academy should not depend on a body having £2m but whether it had "educational expertise, track record and commitment". | He said sponsoring an academy should not depend on a body having £2m but whether it had "educational expertise, track record and commitment". |
"That way I can get more people from a wider spectrum of expertise to come forward. We will make sure in every case that the sponsor is up to the job," he added. | "That way I can get more people from a wider spectrum of expertise to come forward. We will make sure in every case that the sponsor is up to the job," he added. |
Among the new schools opening on Monday will be the City Academy in Hackney, sponsored by the City of London Corporation and KPMG; the Health Academy in Manchester, sponsored by the local NHS trust and North Birmingham Academy, whose sponsors include Aston Villa football club. | Among the new schools opening on Monday will be the City Academy in Hackney, sponsored by the City of London Corporation and KPMG; the Health Academy in Manchester, sponsored by the local NHS trust and North Birmingham Academy, whose sponsors include Aston Villa football club. |
The waiver of financial sponsorship has already been introduced for universities, colleges and schools. | The waiver of financial sponsorship has already been introduced for universities, colleges and schools. |
Instead of an initial cash investment, would-be sponsors will be expected to follow a "robust, transparent procurement process to demonstrate commitment to the education sector and the necessary skills and leadership". | Instead of an initial cash investment, would-be sponsors will be expected to follow a "robust, transparent procurement process to demonstrate commitment to the education sector and the necessary skills and leadership". |
Sponsors will still be encouraged to set up an endowment to help fund the school - an arrangement that the government likens to endowments for universities in the United States. | Sponsors will still be encouraged to set up an endowment to help fund the school - an arrangement that the government likens to endowments for universities in the United States. |
Divided views | Divided views |
But teachers' unions have been sceptical of the academy programme - arguing that the extra spending on academies has had a divisive impact on other local schools. | But teachers' unions have been sceptical of the academy programme - arguing that the extra spending on academies has had a divisive impact on other local schools. |
NUT general secretary Christine Blower said: "We don't believe that taking schools out of their local authorities and having them run by people who have no experience of running schools... is a way of doing school improvement." | NUT general secretary Christine Blower said: "We don't believe that taking schools out of their local authorities and having them run by people who have no experience of running schools... is a way of doing school improvement." |
Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said taxpayer-owned school property was being handed to private interests with little accountability and that under future governments state schools could be run for profit. | |
However, Lynn Gadd, principal at the Harefield Academy, in Uxbridge, Middlesex, said: "I don't think there's any evidence at all that people are looking for profit. | However, Lynn Gadd, principal at the Harefield Academy, in Uxbridge, Middlesex, said: "I don't think there's any evidence at all that people are looking for profit. |
"Local people are governors. They certainly aren't going to let me do anything that isn't in the interests of young people in my care." | "Local people are governors. They certainly aren't going to let me do anything that isn't in the interests of young people in my care." |
Academies have provoked a mixed response from parents. Many academies have been oversubscribed - while there have also been some local protests against the introduction of academies. | Academies have provoked a mixed response from parents. Many academies have been oversubscribed - while there have also been some local protests against the introduction of academies. |
The Conservatives are supporters of academies - but say that the schools should have even greater independence and have accused the government of diluting their ability to innovate. | The Conservatives are supporters of academies - but say that the schools should have even greater independence and have accused the government of diluting their ability to innovate. |