Education Update December 2016 2016

Journey to Excellence outlines our strategy for improving educational outcomes: Working with all Derbyshire schools to build on and develop our Journey to Excellence A shared vision: ‘A good or outstanding school/setting for all Derbyshire learners by 2017’ School improvement is the responsibility of individual schools, Good and outstanding leaders support others beyond their own school Strong collaboration and partnership is seen as key to driving improvement and schools are encouraged to work in strong alliances Derbyshire Education Improvement Partnership Board established to bring together teaching schools, national leaders of education and governance to ensure that support available to schools and that it is appropriately targeted. The Derbyshire Education Improvement Service will provide effective challenge and support.

How are we doing with school and settings outcomes % Pupils in Good or Better Schools/Settings Spring 2014 December 2016 National Average Autumn 2015 Primary 76 86.7 90 Secondary 41 64.71 82.3 Special 81 100 89 (at 31/3/14) Support Centres

Education and Adoption Act Legislation in force from April 2016 Brought in Directive Academy Orders – any school placed into an Ofsted category is directed to be an academy – removed the need for consultation Where an academy order has been issued, the governing body and local authority must take ‘all reason steps’ to facilitate the conversion process.

White Paper - Educational Excellence Everywhere was issued in March 2016. School led system with every school an academy

No Evidence “We have sought but failed to find evidence of the impact of the academy status in schools” Parliamentary Education Committee “Multi Academy Trusts manifest the same weaknesses as the worst performing local authorities and offer the same excuses” Sir Michael Wilshaw

What are the Tories up to? ACADEMISATION IS A NON EVIDENCE BASED IDEALOGICAL CRUSADE TO PRIVATISE EDUCATION!!

On 6 May an amended proposal was announced Although the Government reaffirmed it’s determination to see all schools as academies in the next 6 years it was agreed that it will not implement legislation to bring about a blanket conversion of all schools to academies to achieve this goal.

Derbyshire schools choices Some schools are deciding to take some control over their future and are exploring the option of joining a MAT (multi-academy Trust) before being directed.

What we have we done in response:- Councillor Bisknell and Service Director wrote to all schools to reassure leaders that for most schools there is no need to rush into any decisions regarding academisation or to feel pressurised. Re-inforced this message at Heads and Governor Forums Worked at an individual school level with planning and decision making

What is the picture in Derbyshire in relation to number of academies? Primary Secondary Total National picture 17.9% 60.1% 25.2% Derbyshire 6.5% 44.4% 10.33%

Schools that work for everyone - Green Paper Government consultation launched on 12th September which closes on 12th December Allowing new selective schools to open, existing ones to expand, or non-selective schools to convert where there is demand