6 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013 (DVWHUQ'DLO\3UHVV Like us on Facebook NEWS local www.facebook.com/edp Bewildering new education system in the spotlight

With education in in the spotlight and Lord Nash, the minister responsible for academies, preparing to meet the county’s MPs, and school, business and community leaders, education correspondent MARTIN GEORGE examines the ever-shifting picture of academies in the county.

In the old days it seemed so simple. N Lord Nash, There were state schools, split into the minister grammar and comprehensive, and responsible for there were private schools. academies, Now the education system can who will meet seem a bewildering mix, with terms Norfolk’s MPs, like community school, trust school, and school, free school, all-through school, clus- business and ter and added to new rela- community tionships between different tiers of leaders. the education system, from nursery to university. But in Norfolk today, one area is changing faster than any – academies. allowed to stand alone and run their applications nearing completion. said the school, as intended, had not couple” of schools near its existing Originally a Labour innovation own affairs; and free schools, newly- For some schools, becoming an changed in any significant way as a academies in the area. targeted at failing schools in deprived formed institutions set up with academy is the end of the story as far result. However, some national chains areas, the coalition government public money but independent of the as organisational change is He said: “We have no intention of have seen their plans to expand expanded the programme to all local authority. concerned. joining an academy chain. Reepham blocked by the government over schools. They are all-ability schools According to the latest government High School and College values its concerns they do not have the capac- within the state system, but become figures, Norfolk now has 36 acade- independence and the flexibilty that ity to support all their new schools. independent of the local authority mies, and it is a growing trend, with N Reepham High this brings. However, we are commit- The Hewett School in and gain greater freedom over their five converting in 2010, compared to School and College ted to continue to work collabora- chose the national chain the curriculum, finances and teachers’ 12 last year and seven so far this principal, Mark tively with all Norfolk schools, be Academies Enterprise Trust (AET) pay. year. Farrar. they stand-alone academies, acade- after examining how much support Academies can be divided into It is largely a secondary schools mies in a chain or local authority each chain could give it, their profes- three categories: sponsored acade- phenomenon, with 22 of the 51 in the schools.” sional development of teachers, their mies, usually poorly-performing county having converted, and another But other schools which have left record of securing government capi- schools put under a sponsor from the two awaiting final approval. Reepham High principal Mark or are leaving County Hall control are tal funding, and whether they would world of education, business, faith or Just 10 of Norfolk’s more than Farrar said the decision was a now seeking other, alternative, organ- change the school’s name, uniform or the voluntary sector; converter acad- 350 primary schools have made “purely pragmatic” one designed to isations to join instead. ethos. emies, usually successful schools the same change, with four more avoid a £250,000 cut in income, and he Schools looking for a sponsor often turned to national chains, such as the N Rob Anthony, Birmingham-based Ormiston Trust, senior associate which took on Costessey and headteacher at the Oriel High Schools in 2010, renamed Hewett School in them Victory and Venture, and The Inspiration Trust took on due to join shortly. She said: “The Inspiration Trust Norwich. its first school last September, Mrs De Souza said the trust as a local group of schools will saw them achieve ‘outstanding’ and its portfolio will eventually will concentrate solely on be able to access and draw upon Ofsted inspections recently, or the include two free schools in its Norfolk, aspires to a maximum the best support in Norfolk and Academy Transformation Trust, mix of instutions across the beyond. which has a cluster of schools in west However, the government withdrew county, teaching children from “We already work with Norfolk. its initial approval to join AET, and three to 19. N Rachel De Souza, nationally-recognised An Ormiston spokesman said: “The senior associate headteacher Rob The trust is headed by Rachel chief executive of academics and experts in school advantages of being part of a trust Anthony said the school was happy to De Souza, outgoing principal of the Inspiration improvement and we look the size of Ormiston is the added remain a foundation trust school Victory Academy in Costessey, Trust. outwards to find the very best capacity to provide the ‘back office’ rather than go with any other group, which Ofsted last month said practice nationally and check support and services we can offer. national or local. had transformed into an that we are moving forward. Academies have access to national But now there is a growing trend outstanding school. “We have links with America, experts and a wider package of for Norfolk schools to choose Norfolk Its members include the Sir of two more secondary schools Russia and international support. support, with three groups who say Isaac Newton Sixth Form supporting a small number of schools. However, in the end “It also means there are opportuni- they intend to remain local making Free School, due to open in primaries, and in the longer it is brilliant local teachers ties to have a deep and meaningful the running. September, the Jane Austen term hopes to open a training who will make the difference collaboration across geographic The Inspiration Trust, under chief College, due to open in 2014, school. She said each academy for our local children and it’s borders. For example, Ormiston executive Rachel De Souza, will and Primary will specialise in one or two my ambition that Norfolk will Venture Academy first drew support include two free schools, the Sir Isaac Academy, with Larkman curriculum areas, and lead one day soon lead the way in from schools as far away as Stoke on Newton Sixth Form and Jane Austen Primary in Norwich, on that specialism across the educational standards, right Trent.” College, in its portfolio, while the Academy and Hethersett High group. across the country.” She said the trust had plans to Transforming Education in Norfolk expand modestly, and may add “a Group (TEN), includes City College (DVWHUQ'DLO\3UHVV MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013 7

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Transforming Education in Norfolk Group N Proposals would headteacher Penny The Transforming He said the group was Bignell celebrating Education in Norfolk seeking to take on some their Ofsted result put park and ride Group (TEN) was formed primary schools, which with students. last year when City would give it a unique Picture: ANTONY KELLY Academy Norwich, selling point. prices up by 20pc Wayland Academy in “We would be able to say N From page one Watton and City College to parents that if you ticket climbing from £41 to £57.50 – up 40pc – and Norwich formed a take your son or daughter an annual pass from £410 to £500, a rise of 22pc. federation. within a TEN institution Currently up to four children under 16 can Its institutions include we can give them travel for free with a paying adult but under the the company Norfolk entitlement to a degree. proposals all children over five years old would Educational Services, “You don’t have to stay, pay. created to deliver some but it will be a unique Norfolk County Council says that the changes of the core activities will mean that the most frequent travellers pay for its other members, less than occasional users, and that the prices are and freeing schools to N Dick structured to encourage people to use the quicker concentrate on teaching. Palmer, and more efficient smartcard system. Fakenham High School group CEO of David Harrison, Norfolk County Council’s and Attleborough High Transform- cabinet member for environment, transport, School are poised to join ing Education development and waste, said the proposals were the group. in Norfolk. “a question of realism” and the fare rises were Founding chief executive necessary because of budgets being cut else- Dick Palmer said TEN where. But he added: “We are very much in favour is focused purely on progression route of keeping the park and ride going, and anything Norfolk, and is looking – primary to secondary that might impinge upon that would need to be for schools in the east of to further and higher looked at.” the county to join those education,” he said. it already has further He added: “Our ambition N You can have your say on the plans by writing west. is quite simple in one to Mrs L Page, Department of Legal Services, He said the Department sense. Norfolk County Council, County Hall, Martineau for Education has judged “What we are attempting Lane, Norwich, NR1 2DH or emailing that TEN has good to do is transform [email protected] by July 16. capacity for growth. education in Norfolk. He said one of the “We recognise that group’s innovations is the Norfolk needs to raise Pricing structure imminent appointment of its game and we CURRENT FARES a head of English across believe by having Adult fare (before/after 12.30pm) - £2.40/£2.10 the group, something TEN a local partnership Concessions (after 9.30am) - £1.10 is looking at repeating, of educational 10-day ticket - £22 particularly for core establishments we can Four-week ticket - £41 subjects. best serve that goal.” Annual ticket - £410 PROPOSED FARES (adult fares shown; peak/offpeak) Smartcard payment Norwich, a 14,000-student further governors felt would be beneficial to Diocese of Norwich Education... Trust Day ticket - £3/£2 education institution, as well as high us.” 10-day ticket - £27/£18 schools. Meanwhile, Fakenham High School Weekly ticket - £15.30/£10.20 And in March, the Diocese of has ministerial approval in principle The Bishop of access and ‘belonging’ for Four-week ticket - £57.50/£38.50 Norwich won government approval to to become a sponsored academy Norwich, together with all. 12-week ticket - £162/£110 become an academy sponsor through under TEN, and governors at businessman Graham “And non-church schools Annual ticket - £500/£336 its Diocese of Norwich Education and Attleborough High School unani- Dacre, sponsored the first too, if attracted to the CASH PAYMENT Academies Trust, and is currently mously decided to become an acad- academy in Norfolk. trust’s values, ethos and Day ticket - £3.50/£2.30 advertising for two posts starting in emy within the same group. The , which style.” 10-day ticket - £31/£20.70 September as it develops and grows. Dick Palmer, chief executive of replaced Heartsease High, Weekly ticket - £17.60/£11.80 Cromer Academy, a relatively small TEN, said: “Norfolk has its own solu- in Norwich, opened in Four-week ticket - £66/£44 high school, became a converter acad- tions to its own problems and I think 2008. N The Rt Rev 12-week ticket - £186.30/£124 emy in 2011, and in May decided to through organisations like TEN we The diocese, which Graham Annual ticket - £580/£387 become part of a bigger organisation can show the Department for covers Norfolk as well as James, and joined the Inspiration Trust. Education that Norfolk can resolve Lowestoft and north-east Bishop of its own problems.” Suffolk, has 115 church Norwich. And what about the future? schools, but its Diocese of N Cromer Academy Academies and free schools look Norwich Education and headteacher Penny set to be a permanent part of the Academies Trust is a new SCRAP GOLD Bignell. education landscape whoever wins player on the scene. Bishop Graham James the next election, and Labour’s It was formed in said: “Independence from BEST PRICES PAID Stephen Twigg has proposed giving response to ministerial the local authority yields PART EXCHANGE WELCOME all schools the freedoms academies expectations that schools little in itself. currently enjoy, although with greater deemed failing by Ofsted “The Diocese of Norwich ALBROW & SONS LTD Headteacher Penny Bignell said: community involvement. become sponsored has created its own “We are joining a larger group academies, and will allow academies trust so 10 ALL SAINTS GREEN, NORWICH because we want to expand opportu- the diocese to continue we can provide such OPPOSITE JOHN LEWIS supporting church schools leadership and resources nities for students and staff – more N Education minister TEL : 01603 622569 in this situation. to academies which want choice of subjects, links with the and South West www.albrowjewellers.co.uk It has ministerial to be part of the family Norfolk and Norwich University Norfolk MP approval in principle of church schools in the IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED Hospital, links with universities to Elizabeth Truss. continue to raise aspirations, staff for its first academy, diocese. development and working with other Moorlands Primary in “There are currently staff across the trust to improve Belton, near Gorleston. 115 church schools in practice. However, Andy Mash, the diocese. We are “There will be access to funds for Education minister and director of education very proud of them and identified projects which we do not Conservative South West Norfolk MP for the diocese, said: want to give them the have at present. As a small school we Elizabeth Truss said: “I think one of “The trust is based upon opportunity to convert to believe joining Inspiration will help the things there may be is a trend for being there for ‘good’ academy status if they secure our future in Cromer. more all-through academies, with or ‘outstanding’ schools wish, while retaining “The Inspiration Trust is a Norfolk- primaries linked to the local second- too, not just those at the their connection with based trust, which is appealing, so we ary and also schools reaching down ‘wrong’ end of the Ofsted the diocese and being can work with other schools across the age range into the early years. I inspection spectrum, so provided with the help the trust. It is also planning to stay think there are a lot of different that it offers opportunity, they need to flourish.” 01842 751 722 small with eight to 10 schools, which models.”