UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Edurio’s poll revealed the majority of academy leaders say the new school bill won’t affect management but raised concerns over the loss of curriculum autonomy.
As reported by The Guardian, a survey of England’s academy trust chiefs dismisses worries over the new schools bill, saying it will not impact their management approach.
Who conducted the academy leaders survey, and who participated in it?
A survey conducted by the Edurio platform, commissioned by Schools Week, included 120 academy leaders managing 1,000 academies.
The findings reveal that 60% of academy leaders said the proposed school bill would not impact their operations, while 6% view it positively and 21% warn of negative effects.
Will the new school bill impact teacher pay and curriculum flexibility?
When asked, 79% of trust chief executives responded that the mandate to use statutory pay scales for teachers would not affect school operations. In contrast, 6% saw it as a positive change, whereas 10% expressed concerns over negative consequences.
In response to implementing the national curriculum in all academies, 68% of participants stated that enforcing the same curriculum across academies would bring no changes. However, 17% warned of its potential drawbacks.
Many trust executives voiced concerns that losing autonomy over curriculum planning might hinder innovation and reduce adaptability.
One academy leader stated, “Academy freedoms have allowed trusts to create innovative and effective educational programmes tailored to meet their students’ needs, which has contributed to their success.”
What did Bridget Phillipson say about the new school bill?
Under the new schools bill, introduced by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, several privileges granted to academies are removed, including freedom from national curriculum mandates and statutory pay requirements imposed on local authority schools.
Ms Phillipson stated, “Our reforms will introduce a floor – but no ceiling – so parents can be confident their children are receiving the education they deserve, and schools have the freedom to innovate beyond the basics for their pupils.”
She confirmed that academy CEOs and school leaders are united with the government’s goal to ensure every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to receive a high-quality education.
A government spokesperson stated, “Contrary to the scaremongering from Conservative MPs and other opponents of modernisation, trust CEOs agree that there is nothing to fear from our sensible, pragmatic and commonsense measures to drive up school standards in every school.”
What concerns have trust leaders raised about the school’s bill?
Multiple academy leaders pointed out that the bill lacks essential elements, particularly funding and special educational needs. One leader said that without equitable financial support to cover rising costs, the situation will deteriorate further for schools and families.
Prominent school leaders, like Katharine Birbalsingh, head of Michaela Community School in north-west London, have opposed the bill, saying that her fellow educators “are up in arms” over the changes.
The poll revealed that the strongest backlash came from proposed reforms to school inspections suggested by Ofsted, implementing a new grading system. More than 50% of trust leaders expressed worries that the revisions would harm their schools.
Key provisions in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
- Increases oversight of children’s homes and caps profits for providers.
- Mandates breakfast clubs at primary schools and sets limits on branded uniforms.
- Requires registration for children educated outside of school.
- Expands regulation of independent educational institutions and strengthens Ofsted’s powers.
- Requires academies to follow the national curriculum, pay standards, and employ qualified teachers.
- Restores local authorities’ power to propose newly maintained schools.
- Enhances cooperation on school admissions between schools and local authorities.