Academies and Educational Reform

Governance, Leadership and Strategy

By (author) Dr. Elizabeth Leo, Prof. David Galloway, Phil Hearne

Publication date:

20 October 2010

Publisher

Multilingual Matters

Dimensions:

210x148mm
6x8"

ISBN-13: 9781847693167

Behind the headlines and controversy surrounding new academy schools, many of their principals, teachers and pupils have been quietly changing the culture of learning and achievement in some of the most disadvantaged communities in England. While successful innovation and change is not unique to academies, this book illustrates how the academy policy represents a significant opportunity to improve the life chances of their pupils. Too much attention has focused on unanswerable questions about whether academies are better or worse than their predecessor or comparable schools in their neighbourhood. Too little focus has been on what policy makers and practitioners can learn from the different, and often conflicting, perspectives of the key players, notably sponsors, architects, principals, parents and pupils in order to create a school that can truly serve their community with distinction.

Part 1. Background

Chapter 1. Why Academies?

Chapter 2. Socially Divisive Gimmick or Political and Moral Imperative?

Chapter 3. Opposition: Dogma or Legitimate Concern?

Part 2. Innovation, Governance, Leadership, Teaching and Learning

Chapter 4. 'It’s really down to the sponsor.'

Chapter 5. Schools for the Future: Trophy Buildings or Learning Environments?

Chapter 6. Distinctive Features of Academies: 1. Independence, Accountability, Pressure

Chapter 7. Distinctive Features of Academies: 2. Innovation

Part 3. Futures

Chapter 8. A Coherent Policy?

Chapter 9. Designed to Deliver?

Chapter 10. The Future of Academies: Consolidating the Beachhead?

The development of Academies is a high profile initiative which has given rise to a large number of publications. However, as the analysis in this book illustrates, many of these consist either of polemic or of attempts at evaluation with limited sophistication or success. By asking the question 'what can be learned from the Academies programme?' this book provides a different perspective. The range of interviews with key informants provides concrete original data around which the discussion and analysis are skilfully woven.