112-675: An academy school in England is a state-funded school which is directly funded by the Department for Education and independent of local authority control. The terms of the arrangements are set out in individual Academy Funding Agreements. 80% of secondary schools, 40% of primary schools and 44% of special schools are academies (as of October 2023). Academies are self-governing non-profit charitable trusts and may receive additional support from personal or corporate sponsors, either financially or in kind. Academies are inspected and follow
224-410: A Foundation Stage (covering the last part of optional and first part of compulsory education), 4 Key Stages , and post-16 education, sometimes unofficially termed Key Stage Five, which takes a variety of forms, including 6th Form, which covers the last 2 years of secondary education in schools. A number of different terms and names exist for the various schools and stages a pupil may go through during
336-509: A private sponsor who could be an individual (such as Sir David Garrard , who sponsors Business Academy Bexley ), organisations such as the United Learning Trust , mission-driven businesses such as The Co-operative Group or outsourcing for-profit businesses such as Amey plc ). These sponsors were expected to bring "the best of private-sector best practice and innovative management" to academies, "often in marked contrast to
448-613: A skilled trade . Traineeships are also overseen by the National Apprenticeship Service, and are education and a training programmes that are combined with work experience to give trainees the skills needed to get an apprenticeship. T Levels are technical qualifications introduced in 2020, developed in collaboration with businesses and education providers to prepare students for skilled employment, apprenticeships and higher study. Every T Level includes an industry placement with an employer focused on developing
560-489: A certain level of income, with the state paying all fees for students from the poorest backgrounds. Only those who reach a certain salary threshold (£21,000) pay this fee through general taxation . In practice, higher education remains free at the point of entry in England for a high minority of students. English students are generally entitled to student loans for maintenance and living costs. Undergraduates admitted from
672-540: A council children's home until the age of 11, when he was awarded a local education authority grant to attend Kingham Hill School , a boarding school in Oxfordshire . Adonis studied at Keble College, Oxford , where he graduated with a first-class Bachelor of Arts degree in Modern History in 1984. He pursued further studies at Oxford receiving a doctorate with a thesis entitled, The political role of
784-697: A full list of active academy sponsors. In 2019 there were 5,539 primary academies in England, of which 514 were forced away from local authority control after being failed by Ofsted . The Department for Education (DfE) paid out at least £18.4m to the academy trusts taking on these schools. The parents, governors and local authorities had no say in how this money was spent or how the assets were used. Since 2013–14, more than 300 primary academies have been rebrokered (receiving government setup money again) or moved between trusts. In 2017–8, seven trusts running primary schools closed leaving all their schools in search of another sponsor. This leads to uncertainty and expense as
896-611: A group in a single legal entity. The trust, therefore, creates the capacity for school improvement. As the legal entity, the trust can also create the conditions and the culture of improvement.” They also highlight the impact academy trusts have made in tackling the attainment gap in areas of the country such as the North. Academies have continued to be controversial, and their existence has frequently been opposed and challenged by some politicians, commentators, teachers, teachers' unions, and parents. Even after several years of operation and with
1008-496: A narrowing of the participation gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students". Adult education , continuing education or lifelong learning is offered to students of all ages. This can include the vocational qualifications mentioned above, and also: The two qualifications frameworks in England are the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), for qualifications regulated by Ofqual , and
1120-599: A number of think tanks , is a board member of Policy Network and is the author or co-author of several books, including several studies of the British class system , the rise and fall of the Community Charge , and the Victorian House of Lords . He has also co-edited a collection of essays on Roy Jenkins . Like Jenkins, Adonis speaks with rhotacism . His latest book, Ernest Bevin: Labour's Churchill ,
1232-459: A number of academies open and reporting successes, the programme continues to come under attack for creating schools that are said to be, among other things, a waste of money, selective, damaging to the schools and communities around them, forced on parents who do not want them, and a move towards privatisation of education "by the back door". The introduction of academy schools was opposed by teachers' trade unions and some high-profile figures within
SECTION 10
#17327837052111344-425: A number of forms, and may be academic or vocational . This can involve continued schooling, known as sixth form , leading to A-levels or alternative Level 3 qualifications. It can also include work-based apprenticeships , traineeships and volunteering. The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) covers national school examinations and vocational education qualifications. Higher education often begins with
1456-539: A pupil may choose to stop education is commonly known as the "leaving age" for compulsory education. This age was raised to 18 by the Education and Skills Act 2008 ; the change took effect in 2013 for 16-year-olds and 2015 for 17-year-olds. From this time, the formal school leaving age (which remains 16) and the education leaving age (now 18) have been separated. State-provided schooling and sixth-form education are paid for by taxes. A child begins primary education during
1568-572: A school-style curriculum) to less-structured unschooling . Education Otherwise has supported parents who wished to educate their children outside school since the 1970s. The state provides no financial support to parents who choose to educate their children outside of school. In the early years foundation stage , the curriculum is organised into seven areas of learning: The national curriculum covers pupils in primary school (ages 5 to 11; key stages 1 and 2) and secondary school (ages 11 to 16; key stages 3 and 4). It covers what subjects are taught and
1680-438: A school. They can pursue further education , which includes technical education, in the sixth form of a school, in a specialised sixth form or further education college. Alternatively, they can take an apprenticeship or traineeship, or can volunteer for 20 or more hours a week while undertaking part-time education or training. Types of colleges that focus on education after sixteen include: Students over 16 typically study in
1792-595: A small number of private colleges and universities has been largely state-financed since the 1960s, with a contribution from top-up fees introduced in October 1998, however fees of up to £9,000 per annum have been charged from October 2012. There is a perceived hierarchy among universities, with the Russell Group seen as being composed of the country's more prestigious universities. League tables of universities are produced by private companies and generally cover
1904-525: A three-year bachelor's degree . Postgraduate degrees include master's degrees , either taught or by research, and doctoral level research degrees that usually take at least three years. The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ), which is tied to the RQF, covers degrees and other qualifications from degree-awarding bodies. During the Middle Ages , schools were established to teach Latin to
2016-413: A voluntary payment can be requested, and limited charges at state-funded boarding schools ). All schools are legally required to have a website where they must publish details of their governance, finance, curriculum intent and staff and pupil protection policies. Types of schools in England include: In addition, three of the fifteen City Technology Colleges established in the 1980s still remain;
2128-761: Is a British Labour Party politician and journalist who served in HM Government for five years in the Blair ministry and the Brown ministry . He served as Secretary of State for Transport from 2009 to 2010, and as Chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission from 2015 to 2017. He was Chair of the European Movement , from March 2021 until December 2022 having previously served as Vice-Chairman from 2019 to 2021. He
2240-540: Is a biography of the Labour politician Ernest Bevin whom, alongside Tony Blair, Adonis regards as a source of inspiration for the modern Labour Party. Adonis is a strong supporter and advocate of the European Union (EU) and a vocal opponent of Brexit . Following the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum , he became a key campaigner against the result of the referendum on British departure from
2352-549: Is also linked to the wider debate in the education sector as to the benefits or otherwise of the growing role of religion in the school system being promoted by the New Labour government in general, and Tony Blair in particular, with many academies (one estimate puts it at "more than half") being sponsored either by religious groups or organisations/individuals with a religious affiliation. A parliamentary report in 2015, entitled "Free Schools and Academies", recommends that "In
SECTION 20
#17327837052112464-404: Is compulsory for all children aged 5 to 18, students must stay in a traditional school setting until the age of 16. After this age they are still legally required to receive further education (which may be academic or technical) until the age of 18, but this does not have to be in a traditional school environment and numerous vocational options are legally acceptable and available. The age at which
2576-582: Is currently a columnist for The New European . Adonis began his career as an academic at the University of Oxford , before becoming a journalist at the Financial Times and later The Observer . Adonis was appointed by Prime Minister Tony Blair to be an advisor at the Number 10 Policy Unit , specialising in constitutional and educational policy, in 1998. He was later promoted to become
2688-451: Is for ages 3–4. Primary education is divided into Key Stage 1 for ages 5–7 and Key Stage 2 for ages 7–11. Secondary education is divided into Key Stage 3 for ages 11–14 and Key Stage 4 for ages 14–16. At the end of Year 11 (at age 15-16) students typically take General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams or other Level 1 or Level 2 qualifications. Education is compulsory until 18, thus post-16 education can take
2800-513: Is known as a multi-academy trust , although sometimes the terms academy group or academy federation are used instead. An academy chain is a group of trusts working together under a shared management structure. An academy is an independent state school governed by the Academy Agreement it makes with the Department for Education , and at that point it severs connections with the local education authority. The current advisory text
2912-577: Is published by the Department for Education. The city academy programme was originally based on the programme of City Technology Colleges (CTCs) created by the Conservative government under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, which were also business-sponsored. From 2003, the Government encouraged CTCs to convert to academies; did so (for example, Djanogly CTC is now Djanogly City Academy )
3024-617: Is the Academy and free school: master funding agreement dated March 2018. The governors of the academy are obliged to publish an annual report and accounts, that are open to scrutiny and inspections. All academies are expected to follow a broad and balanced curriculum but many have a particular focus on, or formal specialism in, one or more areas such as science; arts; business and enterprise; computing; engineering; mathematics; modern foreign languages; performing arts; sport; or technology. Although academies are required to follow some aspects of
3136-412: The 50% Rule requiring them to allocate at least half of their places without reference to faith. In terms of their governance, academies are established as companies limited by guarantee with a Board of Directors that acts as a Trust. The Academy Trust has exempt charity status, regulated by the Department for Education . The trustees are legally, but not financially, accountable for the operation of
3248-727: The Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church . All state-funded schools are regularly inspected by the Office for Standards in Education , often known simply as Ofsted. Ofsted publishes reports on the quality of education, learning outcomes, management, and safety and behaviour of young people at a particular school on a regular basis. Schools judged by Ofsted to be providing an inadequate standard of education may be subject to special measures , which could include replacing
3360-785: The DfE and inform the Regional Schools Commission. Governors open consultation with parents and staff, and with this information make a decision as to whether to proceed. Assuming they do, the Regional Schools Commissioner approves the decision to join the selected trust and the Secretary of State issues an academy order. The school staff to are transferred to the MAT in accordance with TUPE regulations, and land and commercial assets are transferred from
3472-543: The Fresh Start programme in a speech by David Blunkett , then Secretary of State for Education and Skills , in 2000. He said that their aim was "to improve pupil performance and break the cycle of low expectations''. The chief architect of the policy was Andrew Adonis (now Lord Adonis, formerly Secretary of State at the Department for Transport ) in his capacity as education advisor to the Prime Minister in
Academy (English school) - Misplaced Pages Continue
3584-820: The House of Commons questioned Henry Stewart, of the Local Schools Network, and Rachel Wolf, of the New Schools Network , on accountability and funding of academies and free schools. The Committee was review a report by the Auditor General, Managing the Expansion of the Academies Programme (HC 682), which had identified that in 2011-12 £96,000,000 had been diverted from supporting under-performing Local Authority schools to
3696-560: The National Curriculum , they are otherwise free to innovate; however, as they participate in the same Key Stage 3 and GCSE exams as other English schools, they teach a curriculum very similar other schools, with only small variations. Like other state schools, academies are required to adhere to the National Admissions Code, although newly established academies with a faith designation are subject to
3808-722: The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 . The school pays a proportion of its central funding to the MAT for shared services but can in theory take better measures to ensure best value. Whilst still in the fairly early stage of development, supporters pointed to emerging data showing "striking" improvements in GCSE results for academies compared to their predecessors, with early results showing that "GCSE results are improving twice as fast in academies as in state schools". In an article in The Observer , that regarded many of
3920-849: The Social Democratic Party and later the Liberal Democrats , representing the North Ward . In 1994, he was selected by the Liberal Democrats as their prospective parliamentary candidate for the Westbury constituency , but he resigned after 18 months. In the following year he joined the Labour Party . During the mid-to-late 1990s he was politically active for Labour in Islington North ,
4032-635: The 19th century to give women access to university education, the first being Bedford College , London (1849), Girton College, Cambridge (1869) and Newnham College, Cambridge (1871). The University of London established special examinations for women in 1868 and opened its degrees to women in 1878. University College Bristol (now the University of Bristol) became the first mixed higher education institution upon its foundation in 1876, followed in 1878 by University College London (which had held some mixed classes starting in 1871). Full-time education
4144-767: The Baker-Dearing Trust, which supports the establishment of University Technical Colleges, technical schools for 14- to 18-year-olds. He has been a Director of RM Plc since October 2011. His book on education reform – Education, Education, Education – was published by Biteback in September 2012. In November 2014, he was appointed visiting professor at King's College London . Adonis considered standing to be Labour's candidate for Mayor of London in 2016 , but ended his putative campaign in February 2015, endorsing Tessa Jowell . In October 2015, he resigned
4256-664: The British peerage in the Third Reform Act system, c. 1885–1914 at Christ Church , before being elected a fellow in History and Politics at Nuffield College . From 1991 to 1996, Adonis was an education and industry correspondent at the Financial Times , eventually becoming their public policy editor. In 1996, he moved to The Observer to work as a political columnist, leader writer and editor. From 1987 until 1991, Adonis served as an Oxford City Councillor for
4368-617: The EU, supporting the People's Vote . Adonis's Greek Cypriot father, Nikos, emigrated Cyprus as a teenager, becoming a waiter in London , where he met Adonis's English mother. His mother left the family when he was three, and she has had no communication with him since. Shortly thereafter Adonis and his sister were placed in care, because their father was working long hours and was not able to cope with sole parental responsibilities. Adonis lived in
4480-919: The European Higher Education Area (QF-EHEA). The Programme for International Student Assessment coordinated by the OECD currently ranks the overall knowledge and skills of British 15-year-olds as 13th in the world in literacy, mathematics, and science with the average British student scoring 503.7, well above the OECD average of 493. Primary school children in England were 4th in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study for reading skills in 2021. Andrew Adonis Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis , PC (born Andreas Adonis ; 22 February 1963)
4592-761: The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) for qualifications granted by bodies with degree awarding powers, overseen by the Quality Assurance Agency . These share a common numbering scheme for their levels, which was also used for the earlier Qualifications and Credit Framework . The RQF is linked to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the FHEQ to the Qualifications Framework of
Academy (English school) - Misplaced Pages Continue
4704-681: The Government's claims for academies with scepticism, journalist Geraldine Bedell conceded that: The article singles out the cited academy, Mossbourne Community Academy in Hackney , as "apparently the most popular [school] in Britain – at least with politicians" and "the top school in the country for value-added results". Since the early stages of the academies sector, the sector has grown substantially, and as of January 2022, more than half (53%) of all pupils in England are educated in an academy, and academies account for 39% of primary schools (40% of
4816-583: The Head of the Policy Unit from 2001 until being created a life peer in 2005, when he was appointed Minister of State for Education in HM Government . He remained in that role when Gordon Brown became Prime Minister in 2007, before becoming Minister of State for Transport in 2008. In 2009, he was promoted to the Cabinet as Transport Secretary , a position he held until 2010. Adonis has worked for
4928-560: The Independent Academies Association, in 2012, Adonis was also admitted as a Liveryman Honoris Causa of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers , one of the major charitable promoters of academies . Lord Adonis is a Trustee of Teach First , the charity which recruits graduates to teach in state schools, as well as a Trustee of the vocational education charity Edge , and a Governor of
5040-703: The Labour Party whip in the House of Lords to sit as a non-affiliated Peer and lead a newly created National Infrastructure Commission (NIC). However, he resigned from the NIC in December 2017 because of HM Government's approach to Brexit , saying the UK was "hurtling towards the EU's emergency exit with no credible plan for the future of British trade and European co-operation". Adonis said he planned to oppose "relentlessly"
5152-459: The Labour Party, such as former party leader Lord Kinnock . Lord Kinnock criticised the academies scheme, saying that they were a "distortion of choice" and risked creating a "seller's market" with "schools selecting parents and children instead of parents selecting schools". The House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee reported in March 2005 that it would have been wiser to limit
5264-620: The National Curriculum, and their teachers are not required or regulated by law to have official teaching qualifications. The Independent Schools Inspectorate regularly publishes reports on the quality of education in all independent schools. The Education Act 1944 stated that parents are responsible for the education of their children, "by regular attendance at school or otherwise", which allows children to be educated at home. Officially referred to as "Elective Home Education", teaching ranges from structured homeschooling (using
5376-596: The Policy Unit. On 16 May 2005, he was created a life peer as "Baron Adonis", of Camden Town in the London Borough of Camden , making it possible for him to serve as a government minister , representing it in the House of Lords . Lord Adonis became the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education in the Department for Education and Skills , which was later renamed the Department for Children, Schools and Families . He
5488-517: The academic year 2012-13 have paid tuition fees set at a maximum of up to £9,000 per annum, with most universities charging over £6,000. Postgraduate fees vary but are generally more than undergraduate fees, depending on the degree and university. There are numerous bursaries (awarded to low income applicants) to offset undergraduate fees and, for postgraduates, full scholarships are available for most subjects, and are usually awarded competitively. The gap between rich and poor students has narrowed since
5600-443: The academies programme, followed by a further £400,000,000 in the financial year 2012-13. The Committee also questioned Chris Wormald , then Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education , who admitted that the Government had deliberately chosen to remove money originally allocated to support under-performing schools. Chris Wormald stated, "The Government took a very conscious decision that its major school improvement programme
5712-429: The academy proposal from its inception but wants the scheme to go further. This accord was reflected in a remark made by Conservative spokesman David Willetts in 2006: I am more authentically Andrew Adonis than Andrew Adonis is. In 2004, the Liberal Democrats were reported as being "split" on the issue and so decided that academies should not be mentioned in the party's education policy. The position of Phil Willis ,
SECTION 50
#17327837052115824-423: The academy. The Trust serves as the legal entity of which the school is part. The trustees oversee the running of the school, sometimes delegating responsibility to a local governing body which they appoint. The day-to-day management of the school is, as in most schools, conducted by the head teacher and their senior management team. In Sponsored Academies, the sponsor is able to influence the process of establishing
5936-488: The borough. The programme of creating academies has also been heavily criticised by some for handing schools to private sector entrepreneurs who in many cases have no experience of the education sector: such as the Evangelical Christian car dealer, Sir Peter Vardy , who has been accused of promoting the teaching of creationism alongside macroevolution in his Emmanuel Schools Foundation academies. This
6048-589: The case for schools in the Co-op Academies Trust (one of the larger business-supported trusts). They were expected to be creative and innovative because of their financial and academic freedoms, in order to deal with the long-term issues they were intended to solve. Originally all Sponsored Academies had to have a curriculum specialism within the English Specialist Schools Programme (SSP) . However, this requirement
6160-437: The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic showed how strong and sustainable trusts are a resilient and protective structure for pupils and schools. Sector experts such as Leora Cruddas, Chief Executive of the sector body Confederation of School Trusts, support the concept of academy trusts being the ideal vehicle for school improvement, as, unlike in local authorities, “it is the legal vehicle that enables schools to work together in
6272-558: The compulsory part of their education. Grammar schools are selective schools, admitting children from 11 years old onward; they are normally state-funded, though fee paying independent grammars do exist. Schools offering nursery (pre-school) education commonly accept pupils from age 3; however, some schools do accept pupils younger than this. Some 93% of children between the ages of 3 and 18 are in education in state-funded schools without charge (other than for activities such as swimming, cultural visits, theatre visits and field trips for which
6384-418: The constituency represented by Jeremy Corbyn , and was selected as Labour candidate to contest St George's Ward for Islington London Borough Council in 1998. He withdrew from the process before the election, however, upon being offered a position in the Number 10 Policy Unit as a constitutional and educational policy advisor in 1997. He remained in this role until 2001, when he was promoted to become Head of
6496-625: The core English, Mathematics and Science. The structure of the National Curriculum is: All schools are also required to teach religious education at all key stages, and secondary schools must provide sex and relationship education . In addition to the compulsory subjects, students at Key Stage 4 have a statutory entitlement to be able to study at least one subject from the arts (comprising art and design, dance, music, photography, media studies, film studies, graphics, drama and media arts), design and technology (comprising design and technology, electronics, engineering, food preparation and nutrition),
6608-563: The early modern period. Nineteenth century reforms expanded education provision and introduced widespread state-funded schools. Until 1870 all schools were charitable or private institutions, but in that year the Elementary Education Act 1870 ( 33 & 34 Vict. c. 75) permitted local governments to complement the existing elementary schools in order to fill any gaps. The Education Act 1902 allowed local authorities to create secondary schools. The Education Act 1918 abolished fees for elementary schools. Women's colleges were established in
6720-427: The education spokesman at the time, was summarised as: … there [are] no plans to abolish either city academies or specialist schools if the Lib Dems came to power, though "they would be brought under local authority control". In 2005, Willis' successor, Ed Davey , argued that academies were creating a "two-tier education system" and called for the academy programme to be halted until "a proper analysis can be done". At
6832-442: The electrification of lines in North West England from Manchester to Liverpool and Manchester to Preston . This electrification programme, except for the Cardiff to Swansea section of the Great Western, was taken forward by the coalition government. Adonis was a key figure in the aftermath of the 2010 general election , which produced a hung parliament . He was reputed to favour a Lib–Lab deal and, given his SDP background,
SECTION 60
#17327837052116944-424: The first three years running parallel to the bachelor's course in the subject. During a first degree students are known as undergraduates . The difference in fees between integrated and traditional postgraduate master's degrees (and that fees are capped at the first degree level for the former) makes taking an integrated master's degree as a first degree a more attractive option. Integrated master's degrees are often
7056-466: The funding agencies to account. The governors of a school are persuaded to consider academy status, perhaps in response to an approach by a multi-academy trust (MAT). They have two choices: remain with their current local authority , or join a multi-academy trust; converting to be a stand-alone trust ceased to be an option prior to 2018. If they were only given a 'satisfactory' (now referred to as 'requir[ing] improvement') Ofsted rating, they don't have
7168-669: The governing body and senior staff. School inspection reports are published online and directly sent to parents and guardians. School uniforms are defined by individual schools, within the constraint that uniform regulations must not discriminate on the grounds of sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief. Schools may choose to permit trousers for girls or religious dress. Pupils aged five to seven in state-funded schools (including those in reception class) are entitled to free school meals and fruit. Pupils aged seven to 16 from low income families are eligible for free school meals. All school meals must follow
7280-443: The government department Ofsted (the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills). England also has private schools (some of which are known as public schools ) and home education ; legally, parents may choose to educate their children by any suitable means. The state-funded compulsory school system is divided into Key Stages , based upon the student's age by August 31. The Early Years Foundation Stage
7392-446: The government's European Union (Withdrawal) Bill in the House of Lords. In his resignation letter, he wrote that, as well as Brexit, the recent decision to end the InterCity East Coast rail franchise three years early, at a cost of hundreds of millions of pounds, would also have forced him to quit. He also claimed that "taking us back into Europe will become the mission of our children's generation". On 15 April 2018 Adonis attended
7504-747: The government's healthy eating standards and promote a healthy diet. State-funded schools are encouraged to provide childcare outside of school hours, including breakfast clubs and after school curriculum activities (drama, computing, food preparation, arts, crafts, sports, science, etc). Approximately 7% of school children in England attend privately run, fee-charging private schools . Some independent schools for 13–18-year-olds are known for historical reasons as ' public schools ' and for 8–13-year-olds as ' prep schools '. Some schools offer scholarships for those with particular skills or aptitudes, or bursaries to allow students from less financially well-off families to attend. Independent schools do not have to follow
7616-443: The group had a narrow escape when a passing lorry's back door "suddenly flew open, dragged a parked car into the street and smashed into another – just feet from the group". On 5 June 2009, Adonis was promoted to the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Transport and was sworn a member of the Privy Council . In this role, he pioneered the plan for High Speed 2 , the proposed high-speed railway line from London to Birmingham and
7728-427: The houses of parliament in 2006. His criticism of under-performing comprehensives made him unpopular with some trade union members and some on the Labour Party's left-wing. In 2006 Adonis supported the conversion of some independent schools under financial duress into state academies, portrayed at the time as a new style of direct grant grammar schools although not selective. As Tony Blair 's head of policy, Adonis
7840-522: The humanities (comprising geography and history), business and enterprise (comprising business studies and economics) and a modern language. Compulsory schooling ends on the last Friday of June for pupils who will turn 16 before the start of the next school year. Most pupils at both state schools and independent schools will typically take GCSE examinations at the end of their last year of compulsory schooling. After this, young people are mandated to continue in education until age 18, but need not attend
7952-605: The infant school to the junior school, and some are not. A few areas still have first schools for ages around 4 to 8 and middle schools for ages 8 or 9 to 12 or 13. English secondary schools are mostly comprehensive (i.e. no entry exam), although the intake of comprehensive schools can vary widely, especially in urban areas with several local schools. Nearly 90% of state-funded secondary schools are specialist schools , receiving extra funding to develop one or more subjects (performing arts, arts, business, humanities, languages, science, mathematics, technology, engineering, etc) in which
8064-616: The introduction of the higher fees. This may be because universities have used tuition fees to invest in bursaries and outreach schemes. In 2016, The Guardian noted that the number of disadvantaged students applying to university had increased by 72% from 2006 to 2015, a bigger rise than in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. A study by the Centre for Economic Performance found that the introduction of tuition fees had "increased funding per head, educational standards, rising enrolments, and
8176-408: The lack of leadership experienced by the failing schools that academies have replaced" (known as predecessor schools). They were originally required to contribute 10% of the academy's capital costs (up to a maximum of £2m). The remainder of the capital and running costs were met by the state in the usual way for UK state schools through grants funded by the local authority. The Government later removed
8288-531: The last Friday in June of the school year in which they turn 16. The education leaving age was raised in 2013 to the year in which they turn 17 and in 2015 to their 18th birthday for those born on, or after, 1 September 1997. The prescribed days are 31 August, 31 December and 31 March. The school year begins on 1 September (or 1 August if a term starts in August). The compulsory stages of education are broken into
8400-557: The late 1990s. Academies were known as City Academies for the first few years, but the term was changed to Academies by an amendment in the Education Act 2002 . The term Sponsored Academies was applied retroactively to this type of academy, to distinguish it from other types of academy that were enabled later. By 2024, about 80% of state-funded secondary schools were academies or free schools, and about 40% of primary schools were academies. Sponsored Academies originally needed
8512-561: The launch event of the People's Vote , a campaign group calling for a public vote on the final Brexit deal between the UK and the European Union. In 2018, Adonis also became a weekly columnist for The New European , a newly created newspaper which campaigned against Brexit and supported the People's Vote campaign. In the 2019 European Parliament election , Adonis was second on Labour's party list for South West England but
8624-501: The local authority. The school can change its mind until documents are sent to the Secretary of State in order to be signed; this is usually around three weeks before the agreed conversion date. There are legal costs involved, and £25,000 is given to a converting academy to cover these costs. The local authority must grant a 125-year lease to the academy trust for the land. School land and playing fields are protected under Section 77 of
8736-528: The meantime the Government should stop exaggerating the success of academies and be cautious about firm conclusions except where the evidence merits it. Academisation is not always successful nor is it the only proven alternative for a struggling school". In 2016 a major study by the Education Policy Institute found no significant differences in performance between academies and local council run schools. The original City Academy programme
8848-576: The new Academic year in September 2010. By 23 July 2010, 153 schools in England had applied for academy status, lower than the prediction that more than 1,000 would do so. In spite of the expanding Academy programme, in August 2010 Gove announced that 75 existing academy rebuild projects were likely to be scaled back. Nevertheless, by September 2012, the majority of state secondary schools in England had become Academies. Monthly updated information on existing academies and free schools, and applications in process,
8960-592: The new trust will rebrand and parents must pay for new school uniform. New rules, staff and systems are set in place. Education in England Education in England is overseen by the Department for Education . Local government authorities are responsible for implementing policy for public education and state-funded schools at a local level. State-funded schools may be selective grammar schools or non-selective comprehensive schools . All state schools are subject to assessment and inspection by
9072-499: The north of England. The plan was published shortly before the 2010 election , and has since been adopted and taken forward by subsequent governments, with some changes to the proposed route. In July 2015, Adonis was appointed a non-executive director to HS2 Board Ltd. Adonis planned and announced the electrification of the Great Western Main Line from London Paddington to Bristol , Cardiff and Swansea , and
9184-406: The pipeline. Research by the Department of Education suggests that performance at these early "sponsored" academies increased more quickly than in similar schools in the mainstream sector, however these figures do not take into account underlying factors which affect which schools are likely to become academies. Policies on academies by Adonis were praised by some opposition politicians, including
9296-485: The power to make the decision. The governors assess the MATs available and willing to take them on. Ethos and values, geographical mix of schools and practicality, how individual schools have succeeded in retaining their identity, value for money, and the trust's capacity to support the development of schools and staff are all factors that are compared. The governors then select a partner trust. They then register interest with
9408-763: The practical and technical skills required for an occupation. Higher education in England is provided by Higher Education (HE) colleges, university colleges , universities and private colleges. Students normally enter higher education as undergraduates from age 18 onwards, and can study for a wide variety of vocational and academic qualifications, including certificates of higher education and higher national certificates at level 4, diplomas of higher education , higher national diplomas and foundation degrees at level 5, bachelor's degrees (normally with honours ) at level 6, and integrated master's degrees and degrees in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science at level 7. Historically, undergraduate education outside
9520-486: The previous year. and, at 1 November 2013, it stood at 3,444. The Education Funding Agency monitors financial management and governance of academies. In March 2022, a report by parliament's Public Accounts Committee found that academy trusts paying a staff member more than £100,000 had increased from 1,875 to 2,245 in 2020–2021 from the previous financial year. The committee concluded that lack of financial transparency undermined parents' capacity to hold school leaders and
9632-432: The primary school population), 80% of secondary schools (79% of secondary school pupils) and 43% of special schools (40% of special school pupils). This growth in the academies system coincides with the improvement of Ofsted judgement across schools, with 88% of all schools rated Good or Outstanding, an improvement from 68% in August 2010. Research from the University of Nottingham into how the academies sector responded to
9744-530: The programme to 30 or 50 academies in order to evaluate the results before expanding the programme, and that "the rapid expansion of the Academy policy comes at the expense of rigorous evaluation". The Select Committee was concerned that the promising results achieved by some academies may be due to increased exclusions of harder-to-teach pupils. They noted that two Middlesbrough academies had expelled 61 pupils, compared to just 15 from all other secondary schools in
9856-589: The requirement for financial investment by a private sponsor in a move to encourage successful existing schools and charities to become sponsors. Sponsored Academies typically replaced one or more existing schools, but some were newly established. They were intended to address the problem of entrenched failure within English schools with low academic achievement, or schools situated in communities with low academic aspirations. Often these schools had been placed in " special measures " after an Ofsted inspection, as has been
9968-658: The rest having converted to academies. These are state-funded all-ability secondary schools which charge no fees but which are independent of local authority control. There are also a small number of state-funded boarding schools . English state-funded primary schools are almost all local schools with a small catchment area. More than half are owned by the Local Authority, though many are (nominally) voluntary controlled and some are voluntary aided. Some schools just include infants (aged 4 to 7) and some just juniors (aged 7 to 11). Some are linked, with automatic progression from
10080-760: The role of Shadow Minister for Infrastructure in the House of Lords, and overseeing the Armitt Review looking at future infrastructure plans for the Labour Party. In July 2010, Adonis became the director of the Institute for Government , an independent charity with cross-party support and Whitehall governance working to improve government effectiveness. Adonis left the Institute for Government in January 2012, to become Chair of Progress , an internal Labour Party organisation. Having been appointed President of
10192-539: The same rules on admissions, special educational needs and exclusions as other state schools and students sit the same national exams. They have more autonomy with the National Curriculum , but must ensure their curriculum is broad and balanced, and that it includes the core subjects of English, maths and science. They must also teach relationships and sex education, and religious education. They are free to choose their specialisms . The following are all types of academy: An academy trust that operates more than one academy
10304-429: The school specialises, which can select up to 10% of their intake for aptitude in the specialism. In areas children can enter a prestigious grammar school if they pass the eleven plus exam ; there are also a number of isolated fully selective grammar schools and a few dozen partially selective schools . A significant minority of state-funded schools are faith schools , which are attached to religious groups, most often
10416-502: The school year they turn 5. Children between the ages of 3 and 5 are entitled to 600 hours per year of optional, state-funded, pre-school education. This can be provided in "playgroups", nurseries, community childcare centres or nursery classes in schools. All children in England must currently therefore receive an effective education (at school or otherwise) from the first "prescribed day", which falls on or after their fifth birthday until their 18th birthday, and must remain in school until
10528-475: The school, including its curriculum, ethos, specialism and building (if a new one is built). The sponsor also has the power to appoint governors to the academy's governing body. The Labour Government under Tony Blair established academies through the Learning and Skills Act 2000 , which amended the section of the Education Act 1996 relating to City Technology Colleges . They were first announced as part of
10640-491: The sixth form of a school ( sixth form is a historical term for Years 12–13), in a separate sixth form college or further education college . Courses at FE colleges (referred to as further education courses ) can also be studied by adults over 18. Colleges can offer a wide range of options for study, including apprenticeships and national qualifications such as: The National Apprenticeship Service helps people 16 or more years of age enter apprenticeships in order to learn
10752-611: The sons of the aristocracy destined for priesthood or monastic work with the ministry of government or the law. Two universities were established in affiliation with the church: the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge , to assist in the further training of the Catholic Christian clergy. Education in England remained closely linked to religious institutions until the nineteenth century, although charity schools and "free grammar schools", which were open to children of any religious beliefs, became more common in
10864-579: The standard route to chartered status for STEM professionals in England. The majority of international students in the United Kingdom chose a British institution because of the country's reputation for high quality education, a far higher proportion than in Canada or Australia (just over 20 per cent) or the US (around 15 per cent). The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge rank among
10976-449: The standards children should reach in each subject. State-funded schools in England are required to offer a curriculum which is balanced and broadly based, which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society, and which prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. State-funded schools are obliged to teach thirteen subjects, including
11088-588: The state has control over teacher training courses, and standards are monitored by Ofsted inspectors. The typical first degree offered at English universities is the bachelor's degree with honours , which usually lasts for three years, although more vocational foundation degrees , typically lasting two years (or full-time equivalent) are also available in some institutions. Many institutions now offer integrated master's degrees , particularly in STEM subjects, as first degrees; these typically lasts for four years,
11200-716: The subsequent election, Academies were supported by all three main political parties, with a further cross-party initiative to extend the programme into primary schools currently being considered. In 2010 the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats coalition government announced plans to expand the academy programme with the Academies Act 2010 . In May 2010 the then Education secretary Michael Gove wrote to all state schools in England inviting them to opt out of Local Authority control and convert to Academy status. Gove also stated that some academies could be created in time for
11312-414: The then Conservative education spokesman Michael Gove , who in 2008 said, "We are on the same page as Andrew Adonis." He encouraged state schools to adopt practices of the private sector and generally believed in giving individual schools more independence and autonomy from central government and the local education authorities , although he voted against schools having more independent authority in
11424-751: The top 10 of the major global rankings . At some institutions in London such as the London School of Economics and University College London , the majority of first degree students are from outside the UK. Including postgraduates, international students are also in the majority at Imperial College London and University of the Arts London . Students who have completed a first degree can apply for postgraduate and graduate courses. These include: Since October 1998, most undergraduates have paid fees repayable after graduation, contingent on attaining
11536-481: The whole UK. The state does not control university syllabuses, but it does influence admission procedures through the Office for Students (OfS), which approves and monitors access agreements to safeguard and promote fair access to higher education. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) is an independent expert quality body, with a remit to maintain and enhance the quality of teaching and learning in tertiary education in England. Unlike most degrees,
11648-737: Was a 2003 conversion. Academies differ from CTCs in several ways; most notably, academies cannot select more than 10% of pupils by ability, whereas CTCs can. Academies have been compared to US charter schools , which are publicly funded schools largely independent of state and federal control. A number of private and charitable organisations run groups of academies, known as Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs). These major operators include ARK Schools , Academies Enterprise Trust , E-ACT (formerly Edutrust Academies Charitable Trust), Emmanuel Schools Foundation , Harris Federation , Oasis Trust , Ormiston Academies Trust , Tauheedul Education Trust and United Learning Trust . The Department for Education publishes
11760-553: Was a member of Labour's negotiating team that attempted to form an administration with the Liberal Democrats . After the Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government with the Conservative Party , Adonis stepped down from frontline politics. Adonis later returned to active politics in 2012, as part of Ed Miliband 's Shadow cabinet reshuffle. He worked with former Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna on crafting Labour's industrial strategy, and previously took up
11872-481: Was attacked for its expense: it cost on average £25m to build an academy under this scheme, much of which was taken up by the costs of new buildings. Critics contend that this is significantly more than it costs to build a new local authority school. Some operators are paying senior staff six-figure salaries, partly funded by central government. In December 2012, the Public Accounts Committee of
11984-514: Was closely involved in the London Challenge . Having been the architect of the academies policy in the Policy Unit, Adonis was also able to be the driving force in Government behind the programme, which replaced failing and under-performing comprehensive schools with all-ability, independently managed academies, run on a not-for-profit basis. By the time he left the Department in October 2008, 133 academies were open and 300 more were in
12096-467: Was not elected. Labour's share of the vote was 6.5% (a fall of 7.3% relative to the 2014 result) and the party lost its only MEP in the region. Adonis was a participant at the 30 May – 2 June 2019 Bilderberg Meeting at Montreux , Switzerland. Adonis advocated a rapid reopening of UK schools during the COVID-19 pandemic . In May 2021, Adonis called for Tony Blair to return to frontline politics in
12208-421: Was regarded as the architect of tuition fees in 2004 – a policy he criticised and disowned 13 years later. Having initially kept his position when Gordon Brown became Prime Minister , Adonis was reshuffled to the Department for Transport on 3 October 2008, to become Minister of State . In May 2009, while reviewing potential cycle "super highways" with Kulveer Ranger and then-London Mayor Boris Johnson ,
12320-811: Was removed in 2010. By May 2010 there were 203 Sponsored Academies in England. The Academies Act 2010 sought to increase the number of academies. It enabled all maintained schools to convert to academy status, known as Converter Academies and enabled new academies to be created via the Free School Programme . At the same time the new Conservative-led Coalition Government announced that they would redirect funding for school Specialisms [i.e. Technology College Status ] into mainstream funding. This meant that Secondary Schools would no longer directly receive ring-fenced funds of £130K from Government for each of their specialisms. One way to regain some direct control over their finances and retain specialist funding
12432-495: Was the academies programme." In December 2018, the Sutton Trust published a report on the effectiveness of MATs in improving the performance of disadvantaged children, with its authors noting that "Our five-year analysis of sponsor academies' provision for disadvantaged pupils shows that while a few chains are demonstrating transformational results for these pupils, more are struggling." The Conservative Party has supported
12544-493: Was to become a Converter Academy and receive all of their funding direct from Government, with the possibility of buying in services at a cheaper rate. This, along with some schools wanting more independence from local authority control, meant that many state secondary schools in England converted to academy status in subsequent years. By April 2011, the number of academies had increased to 629, and by August 2011, reached 1,070. By July 2012 this number reached 1,957, double that of
#210789