Well done to friend and writer for VentnorBlog, Wendy Varley, whose article on the red hot topic of schools competition, made it into the Times Education section yesterday.
Wendy is concerned about the competition to run the new proposed schools (assuming the Conservative administration win the next election and go through with their plans to change the education system to two-tier) and who exactly will run them.
“Are competitions for new schools a way to breathe new energy, ideas and skills into the state system, or a convenient way for local authorities to wash their hands of schools and save themselves a headache?
As part of a planned reorganisation of its schools, Isle of Wight Council is holding a competition (which it will adjudicate) to run five secondary schools, and two primaries. Adverts asking “Would you like to be involved in setting up a new school on the Isle of Wight” have run in local and national newspapers.
By allowing local authorities to become commissioners of schools rather than school providers (covered by the 2006 Education and Inspections Act) the government means to increase diversity and parent choice. Competitions are intended to encourage self-governance by attracting trust or academy bids from a range of organisations (and possibly parents themselves).
But how will it work in practice? I’m an Isle of Wight parent, and I’m finding the process baffling……..
Jump through to the Times article to continue reading what Wendy has to say.
Just as a side point, it’s great to see that The Times chose a picture of beautiful Ventnor to illustrate the Island in the document. [update: We’ve just learnt that the gorgeous shot of Ventnor belongs to Island photographer Patrick Eden – tsk tsk Times picture editor for not crediting him]
