EDUCATION

What is a Community school?

• schools established and run by local council

  • maintain buildings

  • employ staff

  • oversee running of school

• Have very little freedom or independence

How are headteachers chosen in Community schools?

By the governing body of school governers

How are Community Schools funded?

• Funding primarily from central gov but overseen by LEA ( local education authority) within the local council

What are academies?

Schools independently run by academy trusts

What is an academy trust?

• Academy trust is a charity that runs one or more state funded schools

• Consists of a board of directors/trustees who are take on the responsibilities of a local council

How are academies funded?

direct from central gov - no local council involvement

What freedoms do academies have over community schools?

teacher pay

hiring unqualified teachers

can deviate from the national curriculum

more management over their own budget

power over length of school term

Why were academies introduced?

to give struggling schools more freedom to drive up standards by being converted into academies and placed into a multi-academy trust

BUT set to be removed by Labour in 2028

What is a free school and how does it differ from an academy or a community school?

A free school is a type of academy with the same freedoms

BUT

Must be an entirely new school that can be established by anyone ( parents, teachers, community groups)

community schools can be converted into academies but not they cannot be converted into free schools

What is a grammar school?

schools that select pupils by academic ability via 11+ exam at 10/11

163 in England

Run local councils or academy trusts

Arguments for and against grammar schools

FOR

• improves social mobility by helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds go to good schools

AGAINST

• favours children whose parents can afford tutoring

• removes best performing students from state schools

What is Ofsted and what do they do?

Body whose role is to regulate and inspect educational establishments and children across England

primary and secondary schools

early years providers

high ed establishments

council children’s services

How does Ofsted rate schools?

• Previously a one-word rating system ranging from outstanding to inadequate - scrapped by Labour

• Now schools judged and rated against report card system - Ofsted must publish findings

What happens to schools deemed under performing by Ofsted?

they’re placed in ‘special measures’

They are reinspected again or forced to turn into an academy

What are some news worthy issues related to schools?

• AI tools being used in coursework and essays - schools are having a hard time detecting it because tech is inconsistencies

• Many universities in financial crisis causing departments closures and staff redundancies

• Rise in assualts on teachers

• UK teachers shortages

• School smartphone ban came into force in June