Global giant Gems joins the gold rush for academy profits
Gems, a profit making education supplier based in Dubai is the latest firm lining up to make profits out of Academies and ‘Free’ schools. Gems made a loss from its 12 British-based private schools last year, but believes this can be offset by profit from the Government’s moves towards more independence in state education.
http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6061295
This comes at a time when the Swedish government is looking into limiting the profits that education providers can make. The Swedish government will be discussing for-profit education and to what extent free schools should be allowed to withdraw profits if they are found to not live up to minimum quality standards.
The debate remains controversial after a series of high profile cases in recent years of large dividends paid to owners of schools and pre-schools in the private sector.
National Agency for Education (Skolverket) figures which show that teacher/student ratios vary significantly.
While municipal-run schools had the equivalent was 7.9 students per 100 teachers, for-profit free schools only had an average 6.8 teachers per 100 students.
http://www.thelocal.se/29746/20101021/
New Literature from the Education unions
NASUWT on charter schools
http://www.nasuwt.org.uk/consum/groups/public/@education/documents/nas_download/nasuwt_007094.pdf
NASUWT on Free Schools
http://www.nasuwt.org.uk/InformationandAdvice/VoteforEducation/FreeSchools/NASUWT_006685
NUT Academies toolkit
http://www.teachers.org.uk/academiestoolkit
NUT on Free schools
http://www.teachers.org.uk/files/Free-schools-7003.pdf
Councils
The following amendment was tabled by Wandsworth Council Labour Group
“This Council supports the provision of additional secondary school places where this is
warranted by demand. If this cannot be provided by expanding existing LA schools, then
we support the establishment of a new Local Authority Funded school. Any proposal for
establishing a new school should be financially viable and not at the expense of existing LA schools.”
The Tories withdrew their original motion so the amendment was never put, but it is a formulation
other council groups may wish to follow.
Help the Anti Academies Alliance .Can you afford £2 per month to help us campaign?
If you can, please download the Standing Order form here http://www.antiacademies.org.uk/Home/affiliate/StandingOrderMandate.doc?attredirects=0&d=1
How can the Anti Academies Alliance help your school?
We continue to be approached by schools asking us to help them campaign against Academy
proposals that are being pushed on them. The Anti Academies Alliance is happy to work with
head teachers, governors, parents and staff to develop a campaign to prevent your school
becoming an Academy. Please contact the office if you need help.
TUC conference: The future for our schools .The TUC have organised a major conference on
education on Saturday 27th November.
More details and registration here http://www.tuc.org.uk/industrial/tuc-18598-f0.cfm
Anti Academies Alliance AGM. The Anti Academies Alliance AGM will be held on
Saturday 15th January in Central London. More information to follow.
News
Academies to cut staff pay?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/20/spending-review-loss-teaching-jobs
‘Free’ schools in pubs, cinemas or bookies?
http://www.mikebakereducation.co.uk/blog/298/free-schools-in-pubs-cinemas-or-bookies
How billionaire donors harm public education
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/school-turnaroundsreform/
how-billionaire-donors-are-har.html?wprss=answer-sheet
Plan for ‘free’ school in Redbridge splits town hall parties
http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/news/plan_for_free_school_in_redbridge_
splits_town_hall_parties_1_685927
More news stories here http://www.delicious.com/antiacademies
Anti Academies Newspaper – Orders now hit 60,000
Over 60,000 newspapers have now been despatched around the country and are being
distributed to parents, teachers, governors.
It includes updates on the impact of the Academies Act, the case against ‘Free’ schools, who loses? consultation, campaign news.
Please download the order form and post in your order here http://www.antiacademies.org.uk/Home/news/septemberantiacademiesnewspaper
Or email in your order and we will send you an invoice.
Anti Academies DVD
We have an excellent new 13 minute DVD outlining the case against Academies and
‘Free’ Schools.
It is perfect for union meetings / parent meetings / campaign meetings.
If you would like a copy they are £10 to union groups / £2 to parent and campaign groups.
Send orders to the office and we will despatch them with an invoice.
Campaign materials
Make your campaign stall / meeting complete with Stickers / Balloons / Mugs / T Shirts
http://www.antiacademies.org.uk/Home/merchandise
Having trouble keeping up with the news on Academies and Free Schools?
You can follow the Anti Academies Alliance on
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Anti-Academies-Alliance/178831804728?ref=ts
Twitter – http://twitter.com/antiacademies
Summary of Twitter news – http://feedity.com/rss.aspx/antiacademies-org-uk/UVFTW1JS
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