Curiosity- Whats with the change in name?
 

All the schools round my area are changing their names. From 'High Schools' to 'Academies'; whats with this?

Is it happening where you are?

My theory is that people think it sounds better, but if so, isn't it going to wear thin super fast.

It's not to do with the name, not directly anyway! They're funded differently, still publicly funded but not controlled by the local education authority (I think!) so I guess it gives the school more control - something like that anyway!

I@m fairly certain it has something to do with funding and the things they can teach.

Yes. It generally happens to schools who failed Ofsted and are seen as failing schools.

that used to be the case Stellata, but not any more. It is to do with the funding. County councils who previously had control cut the budgets for schools severely, forcing them to find funding elsewhere. the school i work at, if we didnt switch to academy status last september, who have in effect lost out on 750,000 of funding. an amount no school can afford to lose. so effectively had no choice but to take this option. It is the councils way of cutting there budgets. It means the councils no longer have control of those school, instead they are run by the governors. schools however dont have to change their name to have academy in. Ours hasnt.

I live in North-East Scotland and pretty much all the high schools (Secondary schools to us) have been Academies. Including the one I went to which was a new build. Well in my area and the majority in Aberdeen too.

*insert general moaning about academies here*

In Scotland there hasn't been a change, at least not to my knowledge. Elsewhere, as already said it is to do with their funding, organisation and procedures.

My brothers at a posh private school and that's just made the switch to an academy as well! So it's definately not just failing schools doing it.

Most of the schools near us aren't academies but "specialist sports/arts/science colleges" which I think is kind of similar as they get more funding.

My old school became an academy a few years ago. They get extra funding for it.
And the schools ofsted was outstanding anyway

Haha there speaks a fellow teacher!

Where I come from most academies consist of taking two failing schools and sticking them together and hoping they magically become awesome.

^^ what you and Jenna said!! It basically allowed schools to refuse pupils who will lower their results entry to the academy so the school isn't 'failing" anymore. im not a fan of them!

My school has changed to an academy!
It isn't a failing school though, it's considered a very good one in my area, but another school nearby changed its status to an academy so I guess mine just followed along.

My suspicions are that they changed it to have more control over dates and things, because they've actually shortened some of our holidays now. The nerve!

Councils have had there funding cut massively by central government, they aren't doing it by choice.

The problem with academies is that they dont have any ethos....there is no real point behind them. It used to be failed schools being amalgamated to become 'better' out of the control of the LA. But now all schools are invited to become academies and they have control over things such as their own pay scheme for teachers/other members of staff whereas before that was controlled by the LA. They also have more freedom over the delivery of the curriculum and they can decide their own school holidays.

The big problem with academies is that they pop up with almost no warning and thats because most people would have an issue with it!

^I agree with Liv.

Rumour has it there is a new academy en route for September in Durham and it only has one pupil enrolled so far. The school it is replacing was shut down for only having 300+ pupils.

There's a reason we have a national curriculum and allowing parents/businesses to make up their own just seems like a recipe for disaster. At least church schools are still required to abide by certain rules and standards. As far as I'm aware the Emmanuel College group of academies still refuse to teach anything evolution-based, and I imagine they also take great delight in not having to teach that homophobia is not legit in PSHE.

^ It was on my final Teaching Practice that the National Curriculum first came in. [1992]. Random boring fact. :P

Yep!

Also why should it be the governers/sponsors deciding a teacher pay scheme?!Honestly it is ridiculous.

My friend works in the Emmanuel group. I could tell you so many hilarious stories!!

Academies I've worked with have been mixed. Some have changed for the better and some are no different. I haven't come across any that hae been worse those.

Jenna which school in Durham do you mean? I live in Durham and am curious!