When asked what makes a great board the quality of scrutiny and challenge often tops the list. That requires a board that doesn’t just have the right skills mix but also contains a less tangible ‘mix of minds’. Good academy trust boards act together, corporately, in the interests of the children but they also retain strong, independent thinkers who are able to provide robust challenge. Diversity is critical.
Free School News
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Free Schools in the media
Free Schools in the media
Fri 8 June 2018
Plans for a new special free school in Bristol have been revealed. The Learn@ Multi-Academy Trust will be opening the school by 2020, and will educate 136 students with social, emotional, mental health or speech, language and communication needs. There will also be a sixth form for an additional 20 pupils. The school will provide weekday overnight support and accommodation in a 12-place respite unit.
Mon 4 June 2018
LAE’s results often dominate August headlines; unashamedly proud to be a Newham school, it’s hard not to be sucked in by the media rhetoric, particularly over the past two years where all FSM applicant who met the grades were offered a place. But beyond the applause and accolade, LAE is much like any other sixth form.
Free Schools in the media
Free Schools in the media
Fri 1 June 2018
A new state of the art building was opened at Eden Girls’ School, Slough by Lord Theodore Agnew, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the School System. The £22 million development, houses a large sports hall complete with three sports courts, a fitness studio, a library and reflection centre with a garden, playground and outdoor table tennis facilities.
Fri 1 June 2018
As someone who founded and ran one of the first free schools, Bedford Free School, I tend to get geekily excited whenever I hear new research on the subject is being published.
Free Schools in the media
Free Schools in the media
Thu 31 May 2018
In response, Interim Director Mark Lehain said: "As more and more free schools open each year, we're able to think about the future direction of the policy. As a parent and founder of a free school, I know how much the policy has allowed local communities to get the schools they want.
Fri 25 May 2018
I spent part of last weekend at this year’s Northern Rocks conference. I’m not going to lie - I was slightly anxious in the build-up to going. I was invited in my role as Director of Parents and Teachers for Excellence (PTE), and knew that to some extent I would be a token ‘trad’, but I was blown away by the welcome I received and the great discussions I witnessed. Being able to say “I agree with Julian” was a lot of fun…
Fri 18 May 2018
We love a bit of number-crunching here at NSN, and Thursday’s pupil absence dataset contained some interesting news for free school advocates to ponder.
This release, which provides figures on overall, authorised and unauthorised absence for the autumn term 2017, gives us the ability to analyse absence rates by school type, local authority or region, and see how these have changed over time.
