Headteachers of council maintained schools are launching a collective group to give them a 鈥渧oice鈥 in policy-making after being 鈥渕arginalised鈥 by the Conservatives. Founder Andrew O鈥橬eill, a London head, said the previous government 鈥渆ffectively put a muzzle鈥 on maintained schools and 鈥渟hamefully鈥 allowed them to 鈥渨ither on the vine鈥 with 鈥渘o other choice but to become an academy鈥. As well as influencing policy, the new wants to provide a supportive network for council schools to collaborate, sound out innovative ideas and share professional development. More than 100 schools have expressed an interest in joining. O鈥橬eill, head of in west London, said the previous government鈥檚 push towards full academisation was 鈥渃oncerted, intentional and relentless鈥. 鈥淒uring that time, it seemed that participating in policy-making was contingent upon being the chief executive of a large trust.鈥 Labour plans to ‘smooth the difference’ Labour was more agnostic on school structures, with the upcoming children鈥檚 and wellbeing bill 鈥渟moothing the difference鈥 between school types. For instance, academies would be forced to follow the national curriculum and cooperate with councils on admissions. Andrew ONeill 鈥淭he under-representation, not to say marginalisation, of the local authority-maintained sector is a political oversight,鈥 O鈥橬eill said. 鈥淭he government鈥檚 role is to govern for all, not just for the segments that align with specific policy positions.鈥 This approach had also led to a 鈥渂roader and more profound issue. We need policies that make a significant and lasting impact on school standards and enhance the opportunities we provide for children. 鈥淚t is possible that those occupying seats at the policy table have become too detached from the daily realities of post-Covid school settings to contribute pragmatically to the conversation.鈥 Still thousands of maintained schools Since 2015-16, the number of maintained schools has dropped by a third, compared with a 96 per cent rise in academies. About half of schools are now academies. But there are still 11,000 local authority-maintained schools, commanding yearly budgets of 拢24.9 billion, educating 3.3 million pupils and employing 528,000 people. Those involved in the collective are keen to stress they are not 鈥渁nti-academy鈥, saying the collective will provide a space for maintained school heads to stand 鈥渟houlder-to-shoulder鈥 and share experiences. O鈥橬eill 鈥渨ants to replicate some of the great work鈥 of the Confederation of School Trusts, the membership body for trusts, 鈥渂ut on a smaller scale. The group could also collaborate on specific projects to address common challenges, such as falling rolls. Academisation ‘reduces parent choice’ Kate Tramoni, the head of Christ the Saviour Church of England Primary School in west London, hoped schools could share good practice, resources and expertise. Phillipson 鈥榦pen鈥 to academies returning to council oversight She said academisation had sometimes 鈥渞educed parental choice鈥. 鈥淢aintained schools are unique, offering different values within each school.鈥 O鈥橬eill said financial autonomy had also been 鈥渃rucial鈥 to his school鈥檚 success. Most trusts top-slice their schools鈥 budgets to fund their central services, with the average top slice inbetween 5.4 and 7.4 per cent, according to the latest Kreston Reeves report on academy finances. O鈥橬eill, at the lower end, said this be 拢400,000 of his current budget, compared with the 拢70,000 de-delegation he pays to the council. 鈥淗aving the autonomy to allocate these funds allows us the flexibility to run our school in a manner that promptly meets the needs of our pupils, minimises bureaucracy and expedites delivery and implementation.鈥 Good work ‘not celebrated’ Duncan Spalding, the head of Aylsham High School, the only maintained secondary in Norfolk, said there was good work in the sector 鈥渢hat hasn鈥檛 been celebrated and shared as much as it could be鈥. 鈥淚 think there has been a change in the mood music 鈥 it feels like the voice of maintained schools has a chance to be heard. It is interesting to feel that sense that there鈥檚 a willingness to learn from good practice in all schools.鈥 The steering group is still being formed, but O鈥橬eill is keen to have an academy voice to ensure 鈥渋nput from the other side of the sector that are part of this鈥. Jonny Uttley, the chief executive of The Education Alliance Trust, will serve on the group. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping this sends an important message about collaboration,鈥 he said. 鈥淭here are misnomers about academies and trusts 鈥 and one of the things that has blighted the system is this tiresome debate about whether one structure is better than the other.鈥 The collective will launch formally in the new year.
15 November 2024 This is what we have been waiting for! The collective voice of everyone in the education system. Our efforts should focus on brilliance within the school and outward thinking to share this with each other. Each school leader knows their school and community best. Let us get on with the business of the vision of this new government a great education for every single child!! The maintained sector has taken second place, it is all about academies and nothing else!! There have been concerted efforts to have a one size fits all., join a Trust. It is school teams that raise the bar in their schools, so if we are doing a good job please let us get on with it. We are willing to share, support and help as well as learn from each other. It is a breath of fresh share to hear that this government wants to listen.