Global giant Gems joins the gold rush for academy profits
Gems, a profit making education supplier based in Dubai is the latest firm lining up to make profits out of Academies and ‘Free’ schools. Gems made a loss from its 12 British-based private schools last year, but believes this can be offset by profit from the Government’s moves towards more independence in state education. http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6061295
This comes at a time when the Swedish government is looking into limiting the profits that education providers can make. The Swedish government will be discussing for-profit education and to what extent free schools should be allowed to withdraw profits if they are found to not live up to minimum quality standards.
The debate remains controversial after a series of high profile cases in recent years of large dividends paid to owners of schools and pre-schools in the private sector.
National Agency for Education (Skolverket) figures which show that teacher/student ratios vary significantly.
While municipal-run schools had the equivalent was 7.9 students per 100 teachers, for-profit free schools only had an average 6.8 teachers per 100 students. http://www.thelocal.se/29746/20101021/
New Literature from the Education unions
NASUWT on charter schools http://www.nasuwt.org.uk/consum/groups/public/@education/documents/nas_download/nasuwt_007094.pdf NASUWT on Free Schools http://www.nasuwt.org.uk/InformationandAdvice/VoteforEducation/FreeSchools/NASUWT_006685 NUT Academies toolkit http://www.teachers.org.uk/academiestoolkit NUT on Free schools http://www.teachers.org.uk/files/Free-schools-7003.pdf
Councils
The following amendment was tabled by Wandsworth Council Labour Group “This Council supports the provision of additional secondary school places where this is warranted by demand. If this cannot be provided by expanding existing LA schools, then we support the establishment of a new Local Authority Funded school. Any proposal for establishing a new school should be financially viable and not at the expense of existing LA schools.” The Tories withdrew their original motion so the amendment was never put, but it is a formulation other council groups may wish to follow.
How can the Anti Academies Alliance help your school?
We continue to be approached by schools asking us to help them campaign against Academy proposals that are being pushed on them. The Anti Academies Alliance is happy to work with head teachers, governors, parents and staff to develop a campaign to prevent your school becoming an Academy. Please contact the office if you need help.
TUC conference: The future for our schools .The TUC have organised a major conference on education on Saturday 27th November. More details and registration here http://www.tuc.org.uk/industrial/tuc-18598-f0.cfm
Anti Academies Alliance AGM. The Anti Academies Alliance AGM will be held on Saturday 15th January in Central London. More information to follow.
Anti Academies DVD
We have an excellent new 13 minute DVD outlining the case against Academies and ‘Free’ Schools.
It is perfect for union meetings / parent meetings / campaign meetings.
If you would like a copy they are £10 to union groups / £2 to parent and campaign groups. Send orders to the office and we will despatch them with an invoice.
