In a new white paper on schools, the Ministry of Education said Monday that it would allow local authorities to set up multi-academy trusts – centrally funded school groups with greater autonomy than those controlled by local authorities – as part of efforts to make all faculties academies by the end of the decade. It will also provide 86 86 million for multi-academy trusts and will support schools deemed “good” in successive formal inspections to join trusts. The measures are the next phase of a government effort to “level” education and ensure that 90 per cent of children achieve the expected standards in reading, writing and math, partly shifting schools from local authority control to more independent academy teams. Nadhim Zahawi, secretary of education, said the White Paper was “level in action” and would ensure that “all children have access to a school that meets the current best standards”. Other measures include a mandatory 32.5 hours per week for all schools, a commitment that schools will intervene to help any child who is lacking in English or math, and 100 100 million in funding for research on best practice in teaching. The move to allow local authorities to set up academies was welcomed by industry leaders, who said it would allow schools to maintain ties with the local government, which some feared would be lost if they became academies. “The councils have an excellent track record of delivering high quality education to students, with 92 percent of the schools maintained rated by Ofsted as excellent or good,” said Lucy Nethsingha, vice president at the Local Government Association. However, Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said he was “not convinced” that forcing schools to join multi-academy trusts was the best way to secure co-operation, and said the deadline was “Not useful”. “Disappointingly, this white paper does not have big ideas for the future of the education system,” he said. Paul Whiteman, secretary general of the National Association of Head Teachers, said plans to reform school structures were in danger of being distracted, adding that the White Paper was not committing to much-needed additional funding. “Unfortunately, there is a lack of commitment to adequate funding, access to support services or details on how to achieve these daring ambitions,” he said. “Another round of talking about adults and supporting young children will only deceive children and young people, while harming the country’s long-term prospects.” Zahawi told a television show Sunday that it was “wrong” to close schools for the majority of children during the coronavirus pandemic and that he would do “everything in my power to never close schools again.” ». He also confirmed that Covid-19 was still a nuisance in schools in England, with 9 per cent of teachers and support staff being ill, many of them with coronavirus, and 200,000 students also absent. Robert Halfon, chairman of the Commons Education Selection Committee, has advocated for a bigger school day to support efforts to bridge the gap. He said the “four pillars” of teacher development, improving curriculum standards, parental involvement and the introduction of fixed school hours were a “welcome ambition” in the White Paper. “I have been calling for a long-term plan for a long time and the announcement offers a real sense of hope that this could be the beginning,” he said.
