Which schools in North London have switched to Academies and what it means for parents
If your local school has become an academy or is planning to become one, how will this affect the education of children learning in North London schools? One way to find out is to look at the schools in North London that have already switched to academies. Knowing the impact that academies have had on the educational needs of children and teenagers could help to put your mind at rest.
What are academies?
In 2016, George Osbourne set out plans for all schools in England to convert to becoming academies by 2020. The goal was to ensure that children receive the best education and “put the next generation first”. However, the plan was then dropped and schools have the freedom to choose to switch to becoming an academy or not.
Academies receive their funding from central government, not from the local authority. They are run as independent schools whose day-to-day running is overseen by the principal or head teacher. Head teachers have more powers over budgets, hiring staff, pay, and the curriculum.
The academy is overseen by an academy trust which is a charitable body set up to provide advice, support, and expertise.
Schools in North London that have switched to academies
Some schools in North London that already have academy status are the Mill Hill County High School, Hendon School, the Wren Academy, and the Archer Academy. All of these academies consistently receive positive reports from Ofsted and offer a wide choice of subjects on the curriculum.
For example, the Mill Hill County High School takes in students between ages of 11 and 18 and was praised in 2012 for the outstanding behaviour of the students and how the school celebrates diversity.
The Wren Academy in Finchley cares for primary school, secondary school, and sixth form pupils. The school switched to becoming an academy in 2015 and has continued to perform well.
Another school to recently achieve academy status was the Archer Academy in Finchley. In their first Ofsted report, the academy was praised for offering a strong curriculum and fostering productive learning relationships.
What academies mean for parents
One of the main reasons that families move to the borough of Barnet is because of the great choice of schools and academies offering quality education. However, many parents are concerned how academies will affect their children’s future education.
One concern that parents have is that, with head teachers being able to set pay and salary levels, it could squeeze pay and conditions. It could also have an impact on education if teachers and support staff have to work longer hours.
However, many supporters of academies point to the fact that the freedom offered to academies will be used to raise standards of education. Many studies have shown that academies have greater chance and possibilities to improve faster than other state schools.
Generally, all academies in North London perform well. Academies, like other state schools, are overseen by Ofsted and have to meet educational standards set by the government. Many parents in North London have seen that academies are performing well and offering a wide curriculum and other educational activities for pupils.