academy status

[JuicyLucy10]

How many schools are expected/allowed to convert?

The pressure is on for schools to convert before September as the funds are much higher. There are a lot of applications here...Is it a done-deal for any school or is it only a certain percentage will be given the go-ahead?

We had a letter home on Friday explaining our children's school would be applying to become an academy. We are in Somerset.

We really love the school, it has really good leadership and the teaching and organisation seems really well thought out. What I am concerned about is what if the present head leaves... I would hope that there won't be any huge changes for the school and am frightened I may well lose my voice as a parent.

After recently being in another school who is also applying for academy status I have to say I feel the success of this is very much governed by the leadership. This particular head is consumed by his level 1 ofsted and totally living in cloud cukoo land, unable to relate to normal day-to-day...beyond explanations due to his level 1.

Are the changes to be seen more for the benefits of the staff?

[IndigoBell]

The success of maintained schools is equally dependent on having great leadership. So absolutely no diff there between academies and maintained schools......

All schools have diff reasons for converting. What you don't know is what Somerset LEA are like. How much are they giving the school for free, how much support they are giving the school, how much they are charging the school for, etc. What neighborouing schools are doing (or planning to do), what the LEA are planning, etc, etc.

You can request the minutes of the governing body meeting when they discuss becoming an academy to find out more details......