Changethinking

Posts Tagged ‘schools’

Somewhere, in my past I remember being told ‘more haste less speed.’

The Draft Structural Reform Plan is in plenty of haste. Built into that, is the feeling that there is no time to talk about these major changes in our education system that will happen by September 2010.

To discuss openly can only ever be the right thing to do. Consultation is a process that, in the end, has huge benefits including involving people, creating ownership, making changes, being reflective.

So, why is there so much haste in these sweeping changes? At what level of breakneck speed are we expected to see the education system move into academies and free schools?

The Draft Structural Reform Plan, published by the DFE in July 2010 states that they will replace “the old, top down systems of targets and central micromanagement”. The power is being given to the people and the communities, only responsible to the Secretary of Education of course.
Improvements will be made through; local democratic accountability, competition, choice and social action.

But how does the setting up of academies and free schools be democratically accountable and provide social action or indeed choice. Schools set up by parents and anyone that wants to is not the same thing as being democratic

They would, I suggest, create competition and provide choice for those who can afford to move their children and to wherever offers the best in facilities and results.

But what are the opportunities for the schools in less wealthy communities?

And where does this fit with the increasing needs of children living in poverty in our country? Will it bring a good education and a chance to broaden young people’s horizons?

It may enhance children who already have much, but what about those who have not? Are we heading to a fairer society? Will this narrow the gap between the rich and the disadvantaged?

The haste in which this will happen is staggering, over a period of 4 months, including the summer break, legislation will be in place.It is hoped that the first schools will be converting to Academy status in September 2010, one month from now!

Plenty of haste at a breakneck speed for major changes.

Let’s be clear about what the changes are, and for whom, and which children will really receive a better education as a result.

The increase in the free entitlement from 12.5 hrs to 15 hrs a week (when delivered in term time) is already being implemented in some local authorities.

Its intention is to improve access to good quality early years provision and to support all young children’s development and understanding. It also is a great help and support to parents in the growing needs of young families and in enabling some parents to be able to access work related opportunities more easily.

There is a need for flexibility to be built into the programme so that parents can have a range of options to chose from. These should include access on a termly basis or through the year.

Schools and also private, voluntary and independent (PVI’s) settings generally have very different abilities to offer a range of flexible options. But these can be achieved and within areas or neighbourhoods there can be a number of ways of offering the extra time that will best meet the needs of the majority of parents. Some effective consultation is the best way to discover parental needs.

The pathfinders and local authorities that are already successfully delivering the scheme have been asked to have all settings offering 15 hrs by September 2010. Other local authorities now have until September 2011.

There is some helpful information on the DCSF website and includes research and findings from Sheffield and Cambridge.