More primary schools look to go ‘independent’
9:04am Tuesday 22nd November 2011 in Education News
MORE primary schools in Bolton are looking to go it “alone” and become publicly funded independent schools.
Outstanding schools St Bede’s, in Morris Green, and Lever Edge, in Great Lever, have already become government flagship academy schools.
Now other primary schools are expected to get on board in the near future, including SS Simon and Jude CE, in Great Lever.
The school is hoping to become an academy by September next year.
Executive headteacher Simon Bramwell said: “This is not in any way a reflection on the local authority, it is about looking at the changing national landscape of education.”
If the bid is successful, the move will signal a new chapter in the life of the school.
In April, 2008, the school was placed in special measures.
A year later the failing tag was removed and in 2010 it became a National Support School, helping schools in difficulty to raise standards.
The school celebrated its best SATs results, with 87 per cent of children gaining the required level in maths, 89 per cent in English and 96 per cent in writing. Those reaching the more challenging level five stood at 44 per cent, 40 per cent and 43 per cent respectively.
Mr Bramwell said academy status would allow the school more flexibility with the curriculum and place a greater emphasis on subjects which would benefit children and continue to improve results.
Pupils would continue to sit SATs and Ofsted would still carry out inspections.
Mr Bramwell said: “SS Simon and Jude is a National Support School and sees great benefit in the work that it does in this field, in terms of attracting and retaining high quality staff and providing additional resource, both of which have impacted in great progress for the school and elicited record results this year.
“The Government policy of academy sponsors, for good and outstanding schools such as this and forced academies - for schools experiencing difficulties — means that we need to be able to work within that new sector, as well as with church schools and our local partner schools in Bolton, in order to maintain this impetus.
“We very much hope to work with the LA moving forward, enhancing opportunities for children within the town.” Mr Bramwell admitted there was a “moral issue” surrounding academies, as the school would no longer give the local authority a percentage of its budget to maintain a range of central services.
But he said this was balanced by the fact the school would continue to help others.
He said: “Whilst we will become independent of the LA, we will continue to make use of some of the high-quality services they offer. We currently spend in the region of £100k annually purchasing services from and through the local authority, that sum is likely to rise after we take on academy status. It feels in some senses a little like leaving home for the first time, knowing that you are remaining a member of a supportive family but excited at the new experiences and possibilities that will present themselves.
“We recognise though that the most important aspect to taking this decision is about looking to give our children the best opportunities and it is on that basis the governors have resolved to move in this direction.”
