DfE Announces Changes to Maintained Schools Funding Options

PAG StaffGovernment reporting, Schools

The topic of school finances has increasingly made the headlines with schools needing to make efficiency savings of c£3 billion by 2020[1]. The DfE held a consultation between the 24th of March and the 21st of April last year and has now announced that local authorities can now only make loans to help schools spread the cost of large one-off …

We’ve taken the pledge!

PAG StaffUncategorised

Admittedly, words I was not expecting to be writing any time soon, However, rather than a pledge around Pinot, Absolut and Rioja, we’re committing to Partnership, Access and Recruitment. Since starting PAG we’ve been a big believer in leading by example. When we speak to clients about setting up and governing schools we do so from a position where we …

Back to the future for Maths Free Schools

PAG StaffUncategorised

In what we expect to be a busy few days for the Free Schools programme, DfE today launched the process for new 16-19 Maths Free Schools. In a change from the standard process for free schools and that which was followed for the previous Maths Schools, proposers are being asked to complete an initial expression of interest, following which they …

National Curriculum 2014: The Story so Far

PAG StaffUncategorised

Curriculum remains a popular subject of debate in the education sector (as it should!). According to a Policy Exchange think tank report, the National Curriculum 2014 (NC2014) was an attempt to address the mistakes of predecessor national curricula. The report noted that England had two problems. One was a problem of excellence: the outcomes of the schools’ system were not …

Stick, Twist or Fold? What next in the febrile academy trust space?

PAG StaffUncategorised

The noise around academy trusts merging with other trusts continues to increase. Comments from academies minister Lord Agnew in November 2017suggested a minimum figure of 12-20 schools for a viable MAT and advised smaller trusts to seriously consider merging. Subsequently, Sir David Carter stated the minimum size for a trust should be 1,200 pupils. He also encouraged mergers to enable …

Demography is the reason northern pupils are behind, not school effectiveness

PAG StaffUncategorised

A report published by the think tank Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP) clarified that pupils in the north are one GCSE grade behind pupils in London. In their attainment 8 scores in 2017, disadvantaged northern pupils are 6.5 points behind their London counterparts. Whilst it is widely assumed that school effectiveness is the primary cause of pupils in the north falling …

Government unveil £40,000 bursary available for ex-service personnel to train as teachers

PAG StaffUncategorised

As part of the Armed Forces Covenant (the nation’s promise to those who serve or have served), the government unveiled a £40,000 bursary available to ex-service personnel to retrain as teachers. Anyone who has left full-time employment in the British Army, Royal Navy or Royal Airforce in the last five years will be eligible to access the bursary, which will …

Durand Academy Trust start campaign against takeover by Harris Federation

PAG StaffUncategorised

Following a string of well-publicised governance and financial disputes, it was announced this week that Durand Academy Trust has hired an external consultant to campaign against the forced takeover of the trust by the Harris Federation. No stranger to controversy, the Durand Academy Trust made headline news following an initial judgement in the High Court which quashed an Ofsted report …

On the Business of Education Leadership

PAG StaffUncategorised

The question of whether business leaders with no teaching experience can become successful Headteachers and MAT CEOs has been around for some time, with devotees in both camps offering valid reasons for agreeing or disagreeing. A breakthrough of sorts occurred three years ago when a businesswoman with no teaching experience known as ‘the queen of trucks’ was appointed to one …

Education Secretary Expected to Lift Faith Cap

PAG StaffSchools

Following news last month that the Education Secretary was facing an intra-Party battle over the cap which currently forces new faith schools to admit a maximum of 50% of each intake using faith-related criteria, an article in The Sunday Times (18 February 2018) suggests that Damian Hinds fought a good fight and is set to follow through on an election …