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Academy Chain and Academy Head Criticised for Reckless Expenditure

Submitted by Martin Dore on Mon, 20/05/2013 - 12:25

E Act the Academy Chain that boasts that it 'aspire(s) to transform the educational landscape of the UK' has been criticised for widespread financial irregularities in an official report. The landscape has indeed been transformed from one of public sector service to one where 'expenses claims and use of corporate credit cards indicate a culture involving prestige venues, large drinks bills, business lunches and first class travel, all funded from public monies'.

Date: 
Mon, 05/20/2013 - 12:04

Delapidated Schools still Waiting for Funds to Rebuild

Submitted by Martin Dore on Sat, 11/05/2013 - 06:44

The 261 most dilapidated schools have been waiting for funds to rebuild since Michael Gove abolished the Labour government's own scheme. Now, shockingly, 137 of those most in need of rebuilding have been told they have to wait, again.The Department for Education said some 137 schools earmarked for the programme a year ago, would now be "delivered using capital funding, subject to the next spending review settlement." More details about the delays can be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-22483690

Date: 
Sat, 05/11/2013 - 06:37

Education Spending Lacks Accountability

Submitted by Martin Dore on Tue, 23/04/2013 - 11:43

A new report from the Public Accounts Committee has highlighted the profligate spending by the Department for Education on its pet projects, namely the unfettered expansion of Academies and Free Schools. Martin Johnson, deputy general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "It's hard to know which is worse, the lack of financial transparency in academies or the government's failure to check for and identify instances of misuse of funds.

Date: 
Tue, 04/23/2013 - 11:38

Curriculum Chaos on the Horizon

Submitted by Martin Dore on Sat, 13/04/2013 - 09:20

Concern grows about the rush to implement changes to the curriculum by 2014. ASCL, which represents many secondary heads, has called for an extension to a consultation which ends next week. There is widespread recognition that Michael Gove is so desperate to implement the changes before he leaves office, he will place political expediency above the necessity to test the proposals robustly before introducing them. More information about this story can be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-22123931

Date: 
Sat, 04/13/2013 - 09:16

Gove Versus Reality

Submitted by Martin Dore on Fri, 05/04/2013 - 15:29

Not content with uniting the NUT with the ATL in votes of no confidence, Michael Gove is confronted by reality in this video commissioned by the NASUWT: http://www.goveversusreality.com/

Please have a look and pass it on to your friends.

 

Date: 
Fri, 04/05/2013 - 15:25

Join Us at the All Member Policy Forum in Manchester

Submitted by Martin Dore on Thu, 07/03/2013 - 09:25

All SEA members are invited to attend the all member policy forum which takes place on Saturday March 9th 2013 at 1.00pm in Manchester Town Hall. We will be discussing the draft statement on the top ten challenges facing schools for an incoming Labour government. A  draft document has already been circulated to all members and we hope to join CASE, Comprehensive Future and other organisations with a commitment to restoring coherent provision of state education, in establishing an alliance for education.

Date: 
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 09:17

SEA Parliamentary Group Launched

Submitted by Martin Dore on Thu, 14/02/2013 - 14:59

The SEA has launched a new group of parliamentarians committed to the development of education policies which are equitable, rigorous, evidence-based and popular with the electorate. The SEA Parliamentary Branch was formed yesterday in the House of Commons and was attended by Labour members of the Education Select Committee, a front bench spokesperson and other parliamentarians with a longstanding interest in and commitment to education. The Branch will be chaired by John Cryer MP.

Date: 
Thu, 02/14/2013 - 14:51

EBC abandoned!

Submitted by Martin Dore on Thu, 07/02/2013 - 10:20

Michael Gove has been overwhelmed by evidence that the EBac Certificate was fatally flawed. He really should accept that his proposals were wrong, educationally illiterate and ill thought-out. In Gove's case he has really only made grudging concessions. Yes the EBC name has gone but he wishes to change fundamentally the nature of GCSEs along the lines he originally proposed for the new qualification.

Date: 
Thu, 02/07/2013 - 10:15

Gove creates unity in education

Submitted by Martin Dore on Fri, 25/01/2013 - 11:53

Not content with unifying everyone against his EBacc proposals, Michael Gove has now managed to provoke a storm of protest across the educational spectrum against his 'A' level reforms. From the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference to ASCL and the University of Cambridge, Gove has achieved universal criticism of his proposals to change 'A' levels into longitudinal courses, with exams at the end of two years. AS courses are now in doubt.

Date: 
Fri, 01/25/2013 - 11:45

New report confirms that 'the growth of academies may entrench rather than mitigate social inequalities'

Submitted by Martin Dore on Fri, 11/01/2013 - 11:06

A report by the Academies Commission, supported by the RSA and a Pearson think tank, has highlighted concerns about the how the mass expansion of the academy programme has led to unbalanced and unaccountable provision in many areas. Its key recommendations are about boosting accountability and standardising the rules on who schools can admit and how parents can get redress if their children are turned away.

Date: 
Fri, 01/11/2013 - 10:39

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