city academies
Unrest over academies expansion
As 70 failing schools join the 310 already on the list of schools which will be or already are now operating as academies, coalitions of parents in Brighton and Hove, Ipswich and Sheffield are challenging moves to switch them over.
In separate developments, privatisation moves in Goldsmiths College, London and Essex University are also being fought by staff and students, and sponsors of the Unity Academy – one of the early flagships of the initiative – have pulled out. The academy lost its primary backer, Amey, who deny financial pressures are behind their decision.
Make sacking easier - says think-tank
Education unions have responded with anger to the recommendation of a conservative think-tank advocating making sacking of staff and pupil expulsion easier.
The unions assert that the report shows a distinct lack of knowledge of the reality in mainstream school and reveals the agenda behind the academy program.
Academy site occupied in Brent
Protestors have occupied Wembley Park sports field in an attempt to prevent the construction of a City Academy.
The protestors, including teachers, parents and sports ground users have set up tents on the field with the intention of staying there permanently until the proposal is dropped. Funded by the DfES and private sponsor Andrew Rosenfield, the Academy was approved in January by Brent Council and would sit on what is currently Bridge Road Recreation Ground.
£5bn city academies among worst schools
Half of the government's city academy schools are among the "worst performing schools" in Britain.
The effectively part-privatisation schemes are costing UK taxpayers £5 billion.
Of the 14 academies open long enough to be included in the leagues tables, seven are among the 200 lowest performing schools, based on the proportion of pupils achieving five or more good passes at GCSE.
