DEPARTMENT FOR
CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES News Release (2007/0174) issued by
The Government News Network on 2 October 2007
Schools Minister
Andrew Adonis today launched a prospectus encouraging successful
private schools to get involved in Academies, on the same day that
the Girls' Day School Trust announced that it is applying for
Birkenhead High School to become the latest successful independent
day school to convert to an academy.
Woodard Schools, the education trust whose private schools
include Lancing, Ardingly and Hurstpierpoint Colleges in West
Sussex, has also announced its plans to sponsor three academies in
West Sussex in partnership with West Sussex County Council.
In his speech to the Headmasters' and Headmistresses'
Conference in Bournemouth, Andrew Adonis announced that more than
20 private schools or private school foundations are now engaged
in 47 Academy projects between them. The prospectus encourages
other successful private schools to become Academy sponsors or
otherwise engage in academies.
The prospectus clarifies that private schools - alongside
universities - will be able to sponsor Academies without needing
to provide the usual £2 million sponsorship contribution.
Children, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls announced on 10
July that high performing schools and universities and colleges,
because of the excellent educational credentials and benefits they
bring to Academies, would not have to raise £2 million.
In his speech to the HMC, Andrew Adonis says: "Successful
independent schools will be exempt from the £2m sponsorship
requirement when they set up or support an academy. It is your
educational DNA we are seeking, not your fee income or your
existing charitable endowments.
"For an independent school wishing to extend its excellent
provision more widely, an academy could offer a great opportunity.
A large number of independent schools are already engaged, but all
those with a contribution to make are welcome.
"Many independent schools believe that setting up a new
academy helps to fulfil the original vision of their founders, to
provide excellent education for the whole community rather than
mainly to the children of those who can afford expensive fees."
The GDST's application for Birkenhead High School to become
an academy follows the successful transition of The Belvedere
School, the GDST girls day school in Liverpool, to academy status
last month. The Girls' Day School Trust said that its
continued management, ethos and values were central to the
application for Birkenhead High to follow suit.
The new Academy, if approved by the Government after local
consultation, would be the first "all-through"
girls' Academy. The GDST said: "The new Academy will
offer an exciting vision for the provision of first class
education for future generations of children living in the Wirral,
including those who wouldn't normally be able to benefit from
GDST's expertise".
Birkenhead MP Frank Field said: "I very much welcome the
opening of discussions which may bring the school into the state
sector as an independently-managed academy. Such movement into the
state sector also blurs the sharp division between private and
public education in this country which has worked to the detriment
of so many children."
Woodard Schools chairman David Bilton said of the West Sussex
academy plans for Littlehampton, Lancing and Shoreham:
"Woodard Schools has been working closely with the maintained
sector for many years. Our 23 owned schools share best practice,
experiences and pupil opportunities with many maintained schools
across the UK. This is an opportunity to extend our mission."
Last week Marlborough College announced its intention to form a
partnership with the Swindon Academy, sharing professional
expertise and offering joint opportunities to young people from
both schools. The partnership will share teaching skills,
expertise and facilities between the two schools.
Among 23 other private school sponsors or supporters of academies
are Dulwich College, Wellington College, Tonbridge School and
Harrow School.
Today's prospectus sets out four ways that independent
schools can get involved in the management of state-funded
schools, by:
* Setting up, sponsoring and managing their own Academies;
* Supporting an Academy as a co-sponsor, bringing educational expertise;
* Becoming an Academy in areas where there is a demand for high
quality secondary school places - stopping charging fees and
extending their intake to cover a wider social mix;
* Sponsoring a Trust school maintained by the local authority to
help it expand or enhance its provision.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The prospectus for Academies and Independent Schools is
available on the DCSF website.
2. Andrew Adonis's speech to the HMC Conference is available
on the DCSF website.
3. So far The Belvedere School In Toxteth and William
Hulme's Grammar School in Manchester have become Academies,
Colston Girls in Bristol has Ministerial approval to become an
Academy and the department is in discussions with Bristol
Cathedral School about becoming an Academy.
4. The GDST will shortly hold discussions with teachers, parents
of children at the school and other key local stakeholders about
the benefits and wider implications of the Academy proposal for
Birkenhead High School and will keep them informed of key
developments going forward. After Belvedere, this would be the
second GDST school to become an Academy.
PUBLIC ENQUIRIES:
0870 000 2288
info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
INTERNET ADDRESS :
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/findoutmore
If you would like to receive email notification of new press
notices in the subjects of your choice, please click on
'register' on our site: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk,
'Latest News'.