Pictured above: Richard Murrall
The latest Government plans regarding the conversion of primary
schools to academies have prompted strong reactions, both positive
and negative. Education Secretary Michael Gove recently announced
that poorly performing state primary and secondary schools in
England are to be forced into becoming academies, in a bid to
improve the current poor standards being found in many schools
across the country.
It appears the Government no longer intends to tolerate an
educational system which sees many children leaving primary school
with little or no basic grasp of English and Maths; currently less
than 60% of pupils, across England's 1,400 primary schools, fail to
achieve a satisfactory level in these two key subjects. Many then
go on to finish secondary school without five good GCSEs. The
worst 200 primary schools in England are to be targeted in an
attempt to raise the standards of education.
Academy status enables schools greater freedom to operate as
they choose, such as with staff pay, the curriculum taught and
school opening times. Mr Gove has reported that at least 200
schools had failed to reach national targets for at least 5 years.
Richard Murrall, partner and company and commercial solicitor at
Lanyon Bowdler believes that there is a strong government will and
desire to persuade all schools to eventually become academies.
Richard comments "Those in favour and who have converted believe
becoming an Academy will give the school autonomy, in that by
opting out of local authority control will give it the opportunity
to receive funding direct from Government to use how the school
sees fit to preserve and improve what it already has, and to make
savings which can be used to improve the school where necessary for
the benefit of the pupils.
"However, I do recognise that others in the educational sector
have grave concerns that the Government's current policy will
destroy a lot of the good work that has been done previously, and
will create a "best and the rest" educational system. Only time
will tell."
For more information about Lanyon Bowdler, please visit their
website here: www.lblaw.co.uk