Agenda item

The Remembrancer to be heard.

The Board heard an update of the Remembrancer on the implications to education policy of the recent General Election. It was noted that guidance for schools wishing to convert to academies had been published on 15 May 2015. The guidance reflected the emphasis on academies in the Conservative manifesto, which promised efforts to convert failing and coasting schools into academies. Lastly, the government had committed to there being 500 free schools by 2020, as well as to clamp down on satellite London campuses of provincial universities.

The Chairman noted that whilst there was a commitment to deal with coasting schools, it was not clear what was proposed for coasting academies. Members then discussed the issue of academy funding, noting first that any national formula would arguably have a detrimental impact on the money available to London, second that academies like other schools were already feeling the impact of reductions in funding, particularly at over 16, and thirdly that no deficit plan was in place for academies despite the fact some would arguably enter financial difficulties during 2015/16.