Forum Topic

The B word again

I've just received a copy of LB Hounslow's Skills Training and Community Learning Courses for the summer.  I'm struggling to find anything that's based in Brentford.  Anyone know why that should be ?

Pat Kingham ● 4064d8 Comments

That would probably be the 'academy chains' my oldest son has just been made redundant from an academy run by a Swedish outfit, never in all my life have I ever heard anything like it. It always sounded like a cross between St. Trinians and Waterloo Rd.- they also had schools in a couple of other places, one in Ipswich which they are not being allowed to run anymore. Their 'prospectus' they put out was an hysterical read, talk about a work of fiction!They too claimed to be a 'not for profit' organisation.I do not believe that education should be subject to commercial interests, and don't even get me started on 'free' schools.

Vanessa Smith ● 4059d

I think we're on the same side Vanessa, though I've never been a guv'nor so can't claim any expertise.Agreed that the academy thing was kicked off by Labour, though it was restricted to failing schools rather than being an ideological master plan to cut out LEAs.From what I can gather governors had little practical choice but to go along with academisation. I'm a bit sceptical about not-for-profit. No doubt some are, but in many cases it's just a fig leaf (easy enough to arrange for hefty consultancy fees to be paid to your parent company in the Cayman Isles to eliminate any sniff of profit)

Guy Lambert ● 4059d

Whoa there! Wind your neck in - I wasn't defending the process, merely explaining it, in fact at the school where I am a governor I opposed converting to an academy, but don't let's forget that this process was the brainwave of the last government. This lot have just picked it up and run with it their way. I still am of the opinion that once the Secretary of State realises that trying to keep tabs on this mass of individual schools is unmanageable, we will go full circle and either land up with some involvement from local authorities once again or some scheme very similar.Not all academies though are for profit, but if this government get re-elected, I do think that a lot more of our education system will be privatised.I have said it over and over again, we had a supportive and benign relationship with Hounslow as the LEA, whereas what we've got now is control freakery from the Secretary of State, and any real 'freedom' is purely in the imagination.

Vanessa Smith ● 4059d

So Vanessa, in summary, the government is bribing private 'charities' with money generated from the community to take assets off councils so they can be withdrawn from use by the community.What's not to like?PS if you think academies and free schools are not-for-profit, you might be interested in this link, even if it's a bit dated.http://www.localschoolsnetwork.org.uk/2013/08/how-many-academy-trusts-are-a-vehicle-for-investors-wishing-to-profit-from-running-englands-schools/

Guy Lambert ● 4059d

This may help you to understand the current situation?Process6. What is the process for converting to academy status? The conversion process involves at least five elements:the setting up of a charitable company known as the academy trust with memorandum and articles of associationputting in place a funding agreement between the academy trust and the Secretary of State for the running and funding of the academy school(s)transferring the employment of the staff of the school(s) from the local authority or governing body (as applicable) to the academy trust in accordance with TUPEnegotiating a commercial transfer agreement for the transfer of assets and contracts of the school(s) from the local authority and/or governing body to the academy trustarranging for the academy trust to have use of the land and buildings of the school(s), usually either by way of a 125 year lease with the local authority or the transfer of the freehold of the land, as applicable.Where a school is joining an existing academy trust, then there is no need to set up a separate company. If the academy trust currently runs only one school then their documentation will need to be updated so that it can become responsible for multiple schools.Voluntary schools will need to enter into a church supplemental agreement with the Secretary of State and their diocese, which sets out the respective rights and responsibilities of the parties and the use of any church lands by the academy trust.Multi academy trusts may also wish to enter into a scheme of delegation which sets out which powers of the multi academy trust board of directors will be delegated to local governing bodies.

Vanessa Smith ● 4059d

Who exactly owns and maintains Academies that were formerly state schools?Or indeed who does fund the buildings?In the US where the academy system is modelled it is a state requirement for all school facilities to be available to local people out of school hours.Having lived in Atlanta and Connecticut for many years, the facilities were at the fingertips of almost every local community and hire rates were very cheap.I organised a five a side football night for over 30sI used the school sports hall. They had a min charge of $20 so if no one turned up I would be $20 out of pocket. However if more than 15 turned up they would charge a bit extra. So it eliminated the risk for people getting out there and trying something.It ran for 2 years with around 25 each week so we could have mini tournaments, then I returned to Brentford.So if the buildings are still the property of the taxpayer why are they being denied community use?Why are these stipulations not being factored in to terms and conditions?It just like when LBH managed to contract out parks maintenance with the contractors not being required to sweep the paths and empty the bins.

Raymond Havelock ● 4060d

A member of Hounslow's Adult Education team told me this week that since Brentford Girls School became an Academy, it no longer offers space for these classes. The AE department has started to use the libraries at Osterley and Isleworth for Staying Active classes but it's a shame that the public have lost access to the school.

Barbara Lawrence ● 4060d

Similarly there isn't one single thing arranged for Isleworth Public Hall which is a lovely venue - maybe they're trying to tell us all something?

Vanessa Smith ● 4064d