WEST SUSSEX ACADEMY WATCH Parent-led campaign group against academies and free schools in West Sussex
Monday 22 July 2013
Davison High School for Girls, Worthing, registers interest in academy status
Disappointing to learn that Davison High School for Girls, Worthing, have 'registered an interest' with the DfE in gaining academy status. However, it's positive to see some open communication from the governing body with parents. We will be watching developments there and will be keen to learn if the governing body can decipher any benefits from a change in its legal status. This is an Ofsted 'outstanding' school after all, and so is clearly running things very well already. We would urge parents and prospective parents of the school who are opposed to Davison becoming an academy, to respond in writing to the Chair of Governors, Ray Oxenbridge.
Saturday 20 July 2013
New secondary school in Worthing
Joe Riddle, Worthing Herald, 20th July 2012
THE government has confirmed funding to build a new secondary school in Worthing to accommodate the growing number of children coming through the school system.
The Department for Education has set aside more than £13million for the construction of the new 900-pupil school to be built in Broadwater.
Academy chain under fire following revelation of payments made to bosses
This is an utter disgrace.
Academy Enterprise Trust paid almost £500,000 over three years to private businesses owned by its trustees and executives
Daniel Boffey, The Guardian, 20th July 2013
Academy Enterprise Trust paid almost £500,000 over three years to private businesses owned by its trustees and executives
Daniel Boffey, The Guardian, 20th July 2013
The country's largest taxpayer-funded academy chain, which was recently criticised for its poor performance in managing schools, has paid nearly £500,000 into the private business interests of its trustees and executives.
An investigation by the Observer has uncovered a series of payments over the past three years to companies in which those running theAcademy Enterprise Trust (AET), a registered charity, have a beneficial interest. The payments were for services ranging from "project management" to "HR consultancy", according to the academy chain's company accounts. AET, which is based in Essex, has not provided further details. In all the cases the services had not been put out to competitive tender.
Wednesday 10 July 2013
More questions for Michael Gove
Michael Gove’s second letter to Stephen Twigg consisted of an impressive looking list of all the activities undertaken by the Department for Education while he has been Secretary of State. However there is no mention of the results of this activity in terms of improved teaching and learning or better outcomes for children.
There are one or two items in the list for which the coalition government deserves credit, such as the £2.5 billion spent on the pupil premium. However, in the spirit of Mr Gove’s first letter to Stephen, we would like to ask some questions of him:
Read more...
Friday 5 July 2013
Business case for proposed West Sussex Durand boarding school questioned
Midhurst and Petworth Observer, 5th July 2013
PLANS to build a boarding school for inner city school children on the former St Cuthman’s site at Stedham have received a setback after the National Audit Office expressed concerns about the government’s backing of the controversial scheme.
The concerns have emerged in a letter seen by the Observer written from the auditor general Amyas Morse to the permanent secretary at the department for Education Chris Wormald.
He said he believed ministers had agreed £17m for England’s first free state boarding school, without looking at its long-term viability and the department for education approved funds without fully analysing risks.
Monday 1 July 2013
New academies in West Sussex opening in September 2013
2012-13 transitioning academies
- St Lawrence, Hurstpierpoint - due to convert 1 July 2013.
2013-2014 transitioning academies
- Eastbrook Primary School, Shoreham - due to convert 1 September 2013
- The Mill Primary School, Crawley - due to convert 1 September 2013
- Downview Primary School, Bognor Regis - due to convert 1 September 2013
- River Beach Primary School, Littlehampton – aiming to convert 1 September 2013
- Chichester High School For Boys – aiming to convert 1 September 2013
- Chichester High School for Girls – aiming to convert 1 September 2013.
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