1. What should governors do now?
Challenges (and opportunities) in the next five years
Doing more for less

2. My background Journalist
School Governor since 1992 primary and secondary
Worked in government
Campaigner – school admissions comprehensive education

3. Local Schools Network
Founded in 2010 in response to the New Schools Network
For high quality, local non selective schools, rooted in local communities, supported to improve rather than being attacked and demonised
Market not working – need a different approach

4. Policy context Over 25 years of diversity, choice and the “market”
Schools got better but “dizzying hierarchy of schools” still exists
Too much selection
Too much central control
Fragmented systems of local oversight
Gaps between rich and poor too big
Lack of clarity about what is a good education? What makes an educated 19 year old?

5. Challenges facing all schools
Need to keep improving
Funding -cuts and NFF
Teacher supply
Uncertainty over the role of academies, local authorities, regional schools commissioners
School place planning
Changes to assessment and accountability
New grammar schools
Fragmentation, school segregation and inclusion

6. Funding Level of cuts unprecedented in recent times
Between 2000 and 2010 school budgets rose by about 5% a year. Between overall rise of 0.6%
Next five years cuts of around 8 % (Institute for Fiscal Studies). NI and Pensions up, EY and Post-16 not protected
Impact of a National Funding Formula on London schools – between 2-10%?
Time needed to address impact on schools
Post 16 funding fell by 14% in the last Parliament. Could be higher now

7. Teacher Supply Applications to teacher training down by 16% since 2010
800,000 more pupils in the system in ten years time
Particular shortages in some subjects and regions (London)
Impact on standards and progression to headship

8. Curriculum, assessment and accountability
Massive changes underway at once
New floor targets and “coasting” schools
Impact of accountability measures on school behaviour and the curriculum – moral dimension
Doing what is best for our schools or best for our pupils

9. Schools that work for Everyone?
Consultation response
Possible legislation or not?
Options for implementation
Local context and campaigning
Government non-response to other pressing issues?

10. Questions for governors
How to do more for less?
Should we build stronger partnerships with other local schools?
Who are the right partners for a sustainable future? Values and principles.
Where does power and autonomy lie in partnership/trust arrangements
Who brokers and how?
Role of the local authority?
Camden Learning
What happens if one school decides to become a grammar?

11. Our context -London Schools
Are we (in London) better placed to exploit these opportunities than other parts of the country?
Huge benefits – diversity, funding, cultural opportunities, proximity, good governors, exciting young teachers, strong leadership,
Disadvantages – most active quasi- market in the country, rampant private sector, extreme wealth and poverty, selection, cost of housing.

12. Some other views….
“The typical MAT of the future is likely to be made up of a group of local schools that have worked together for years, share the same values and work comfortably with a leader who is well known to that local community and has been appointed because they have an outstanding track record” Sir David Carter, National Schools Commissioner May 2016

13. Steve Mumby CEO of the Education Development Trust ( formerly CfBT)
“Enduring change requires a degree of voluntarism and a compelling vision, combined with strong principles that can pull a given change forwards”
““Should my school become an academy” is the wrong question”. The right question is: How can my school best collaborate with others to ensure that each of the children is a powerful learner and that the adults are given opportunities to learn and develop as teachers and leaders”
Steve Mumby CEO of the Education Development Trust ( formerly CfBT)

14. An alternative approach?
Stop obsessing about school “type”
Look at what works?
OECD PISA – used frequently to tell us what is wrong with our schools
What does it tell us about what works in the most successful countries?
Quality and equality.

15. The message is clear….. Autonomy for schools and professionals
Clear systems of local oversight. Is this the LA?
Non selective, all ability schools.
Relentless focus on teacher quality – recruitment and development. This is the real challenge!

16. The future Tumultuous times ahead for governors
Need to keep improving against a background of considerable challenges
Think about our vision and values, our communities
What matters to our schools
How do we stick to them as far as possible as far as possible, whatever the future holds?