But has it worked? Well we don't know for sure and never will because there wasn't a proper evaluation. Schools did not covert in a random way so simply comparing groups of schools doesn't tell us much. Lack of evaluation is a major failing in English education policy.
-
Show this thread
-
What can we say? Have most academies dramatically improved/changed since converting? No Have many got worse? No. Have some academies, especially in very disadvantaged areas, totally changed the perception of what's possible? Yes, absolutely.
6 replies 2 retweets 19 likesShow this thread -
Why has that happened? Because some academy trusts decided to do things in a totally different way to how schools had traditionally been run. Could this have happened without academies? Yes, but it didn't because the previous system didn't encourage innovation.
1 reply 0 retweets 6 likesShow this thread -
For me this justifies the policy by itself. The best academies - like Globe Academy where I was today - are as good as any schools in the world. The delegations I take round these schools are stunned by what's possible.
5 replies 0 retweets 12 likesShow this thread -
But...there's always a but....the policy hasn't really changed most schools now called academies. So what are the next set of challenges policymakers have to consider? (If they can ever get out of the Brexit shadow....)
2 replies 0 retweets 7 likesShow this thread -
First - there needs to be political clarity on the end goal. What do we want the system to look like at the end of the reform process? Since the 2016 white paper was binned by May we haven't had any direction of travel. This creates real uncertainty for school operators.
2 replies 3 retweets 11 likesShow this thread -
Secondly - we need far more investment in academy trust capacity. The early trusts like ARK benefited from significant investment that allowed them to think deeply about their educational model. Too many trusts now are just paddling furiously to keep their heads above water.
5 replies 9 retweets 25 likesShow this thread -
Thirdly - we need to boost the various networks that are developing in the new education world that allow trusts to share with each other. And we have to incentivise them - financially or through accountability - to share IP.
3 replies 3 retweets 10 likesShow this thread -
Fourthly - we need smarter accountability (and the new Ofsted framework has helpful ideas here) to stop the minority of trusts that are gaming the system and not focusing on high quality education.
4 replies 1 retweet 9 likesShow this thread -
Lots more I could say but this thread has grown absurdly long. I really need to start blogging again! / ends
7 replies 0 retweets 14 likesShow this thread
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.