[Brighton] Does anyone here have kids at West Hove Infant/Junior school? The privatisation of our schools should be a national scandal…

I was a deputy chair of governors of an LEA school when Nicky Morgan was pushing plans that all primary schools had to go academy.

The options available (academy companies, charitable trusts, single school academisation, partnerships) were all discussed. I always preferred the status quo, but of those the last 2 were the ones I most favoured (so for example in the woodingdean, Rottingdean and saltdean area you would look at the non church schools grouping up).

The plans were dropped.

But the damage has been done as mamy schools have turned. Schools used to get a lot of support from the Local education authority (collective purchasing of contracts, governor and hr support etc) but with less schools there is less money to do this.

I also don't agree with statements that previous concerns haven't come to fruition. Academies don't have to follow the national curriculum, don't have to maintain buildings to the same legal standard and can employ unqualified teachers. Those concerns are now showing in results and attendance matters. That's why they use army style discipline and uniform controls to 'differentiate

Are there any laws against schools monetising things?

“Want top set? That’s a premium class you can pay as you go or get a loan upfront to cover”

That’s got to be the goal of a company right? To make as much money as possible?

When a school is operated by a board of trustees miles and miles away, with an executive team and a CEO, who drives a sports car with an allocated parking space. You have to question whether your 'local community' primary school still exists. I hope parents and carers fight every proposal of this nature with all their might.
Sadly, I fear academisation plans are being made due to deficit budgets, with a decade of crippling underfunding now at tipping point. As schools are funded per pupil, the strain on budgets in the city comes from a low birth rate and extremely high SEND needs which are not being supported financially by central and local government. Schools may feel they have no option but to protect their future by academisation...3 schools will have closed within the last 12 months with low numbers and big deficits.

jackalbion said:

Yeah and they educated complete idiots like @UnhingedSeagull94

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Hahahah I only did year 11 there. Probably a lot better since the PCC days.

Both my kids went there & I was a parent governor when they were there. They have moved on & so have I.

When life was still in monochrome I went to West Hove Junior school. Sad that it is being put at risk with this nonsense.

Fingers crossed (not much these days) common sense wins through.