Privatising Education - Global Academies

[Caz]

Bits and pieces I have come across, from memory:

India: schools going into the hands of mobile phone operators, ARK training the headteachers

Israel: schools going into the hands of private sponsors

Libya: at least one school being built by 'Building Schools for the Future' programme

Vietnam: one senior staff at Aecom (parent company of Padco, private military) is chairman of 'Vietnam Education Foundation'

Australia: Rudd (Prime Minister) says that failing schools will have the headteachers replaced, in Victoria about 26 schools tendered for sponsorship about a year ago

US: Charter schools in place for some time, Obama apparently now talks about new-build schools

UK: intention to have all schools in the country new-build academies

NZ: academy schools being put into place (I have heard)

Murdoch now talking about the 'dreadful' UK schools (not sure he has been in any of them)

Although I think the link has been dropped, it was on the 'Mansell' website http://www.mansell.plc.uk/ that they were 'Education Consultants' of about 75 schools; this included Eton and Gordonstoun.

Sure there is more of this going on.

[fish5133]

Not sure if related but Teachers strike over new academy plans

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090127/tuk-teachers-strike-over-academy-p lans-dba1618.html

More than 1,000 children have been sent home from school in south London after their teachers went on strike.
Teachers strike over academy plans

Members of the National Uniion of Teachers took part in the one-day walkout in protest at Croydon Council's plans to create three new academies.

Five schools in Croydon were closed and it is believed more than 130 teachers were involved in the protest.

Pupils at Ashburton Infants and Junior schools have been sent home, while Ashburton Community School, Addington High School and Westwood Language College are only open to GCSE students.

The strike action comes as Croydon Council' began their consultation over new proposals for secondary schools in the area.

Under the proposals, Ashburton Infants, Ashburton Juniors and Ashburton Community school would become one academy run by the Oasis Trust.

Haling Manor School would become another, with the Harris Federation the preferred bidder for it. Selsdon High could also be turned into an academy while two other schools could be turned into trust schools.

Dave Harvey, secretary of the Croydon NUT branch, said: "The council has produced a review of secondary education provision which removes all of the secondary schools in the borough from council control.

"There would not be a single community school in Croydon, only faith schools, trust schools, academies and foundation schools.

"We describe this as an abdication of municipal responsibility."

Dave Hill, executive director of children, young people and learners at Croydon Council said: "While we acknowledge the NUT's opposition to the creation of academy schools on principle, there is strong evidence across the country showing that exam results at academies improve at double the national average rate and that they succeed in tackling entrenched low achievement."

[TonyGosling]

Caz texted me yestersay to say the plan for a new academy in Wembley has been shelved.
Huzzzzzaah!

[TonyGosling]

Some comprehensive research on the new generation of privatised Academy Schools. Well done Life In The Mix.

[fish5133]

Up here on Wirral they are now planning to build 2 Academies and close 3 existing schools? Why? Whats the difference between a school and an academy?. Are they going to sack all the existing teachers and employ better ones? If they keep the existing teachers then surely the level of education will be just the same as it is. I just dont get it. Is it just a load of *ollox giving it a name change. Our local council is strapped for cash closing 14 libraries, 3 leisure centres a museum, getting rid of lollipop persons scrapping funding to community centres and village halls. AND the community charge is going up as well.

[kbo234]

[fish5133]

Thanks KBO for your thoughts.


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