67-571: Thorp Academy is a large 11–18 secondary Academy in Ryton Tyne & Wear , England. The academy was established in the 19th century by Charles Thorp who went on to found Durham University. The site that Thorp Academy now stands on is the site of the original school established by Charles Thorp. In the early 2010's, Gateshead Council merged Ryton Comprehensive School (the current Thorp Academy site) and Hookergate School in High Spen . With
134-509: 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
201-511: A 'Network of Teaching Excellence'to support schools with the new curriculum. In 2015, the department announced a major restructuring of the further education sector, through 37 area reviews of post-16 provision. The proposals were criticised by NUS Vice President for Further Education Shakira Martin for not sufficiently taking into account the impact on learners; the Sixth Form Colleges' Association similarly criticised
268-462: A Church of England Foundation, was built in 1861. In 1890 there were 200 pupils and 7 teachers. The school name was changed to Ryton Comprehensive School (date unknown). In 2005 there were 1270 pupils with over 200 in the sixth form, and 84 teachers. Ryton Comprehensive School was threatened with closure as part of a review of secondary education in Gateshead in 2009. It was eventually decided that
335-714: A blue shirt, grey jumper and black trousers. In 2013, the school announced plans to convert to an academy. The sponsor, Northern Education Trust, was confirmed in 2014. The conversion occurred in September 2014 with the school being renamed Thorp Academy. The Senior Leadership Team is led by CEO of Northern Education Trust, Rob Tarn, alongside the NET Executive Team, Senior Executive Principal, Michael Robson with support from Associate Executive Principal, Karen Hailes and Executive Principal, Nikki Gibb. The NET Executive Team work closely with Principal, Joanna Macaulay and
402-754: 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
469-414: A library. In 2011 Hookergate School in High Spen was closed due to falling numbers, and merged with Ryton Comprehensive. The Hookergate site remained open for the academic year 2011–12 to provide education for years 8, 9 and 11. The school changed its name to Charles Thorp Comprehensive School in September 2011. The uniform changed from a maroon blazer, blue shirt, blue striped tie and grey trousers to
536-485: A number of Vice Principals, Assistant Principals and Associate Assistant Principals. The academy was rebuilt between 2016 and 2019 by Sir Robert McAlpine as part of the Department for Education 's Priority Schools Building Scheme. The academy is made up of three main blocks which are built around a quadrangle. This building is on the northern part of the academy site and houses the main school dining hall as well as
603-467: 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
670-638: A number of subject areas with the progress made by students in Mathematics and Computer Science in the top 10% nationally. The percentage of students attaining a grade 5 or above in English and Mathematics ranks in the top 25% of schools in England. The academy has the largest catchment area in Gateshead and has 10 core feeder primary schools. Students come from Ryton , Crawcrook , Clara Vale , Winlaton , Blaydon , Greenside , High Spen , Highfield , Rowlands Gill & Chopwell . The Thorp School,
737-614: Is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom . It is responsible for child protection , child services , education (compulsory, further, and higher education), apprenticeships , and wider skills in England . A Department for Education previously existed between 1992, when the Department of Education and Science was renamed, and 1995, when it was merged with the Department for Employment to become
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#1732800828545804-533: 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
871-618: Is a planned agency that would will replace the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education over a 9 month period commencing in July 2024 subject to legislation. The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) is responsible for developing and delivering all statutory assessments for school pupils in England . It was formed on 1 October 2011 and took over the functions of the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency . The STA
938-554: 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
1005-614: Is devolved elsewhere in the United Kingdom. The department's main devolved counterparts are as follows: The Department for Education released a new National Curriculum for schools in England for September 2014, which included 'Computing'. Following Michael Gove 's speech in 2012, the subject of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has been disapplied and replaced by Computing. With the new curriculum, materials have been written by commercial companies, to support non-specialist teachers, for example, ' 100 Computing Lessons ' by Scholastic . The Computing at Schools organisation has created
1072-515: 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
1139-578: 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 )
1206-645: Is regulated by the examinations regulator, Ofqual . The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) is responsible for regulation of the teaching profession, including misconduct hearings. Its predecessors include the National College for Teaching and Leadership (to 2018), the Teaching Agency (to 2013) and the Training and Development Agency for Schools (from 1994). The DfE is also supported by 10 public bodies: Education, youth and children's policy
1273-620: 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
1340-684: Is the legal vehicle that enables schools to work together in 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
1407-414: 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
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#17328008285451474-540: The Department for Education and Employment . The current holder of Secretary of State for Education is the Rt. Hon. Bridget Phillipson MP and Susan Acland-Hood is the permanent secretary . The expenditure, administration, and policy of the Department of Education are scrutinised by the Education Select Committee . The DfE was formed on 12 May 2010 by the incoming Coalition Government , taking on
1541-785: 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
1608-464: 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
1675-820: 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
1742-692: The National Apprenticeship Service and the National Careers Service . The EFA was formed on 1 April 2012 by bringing together the functions of two non-departmental public bodies , the Young People's Learning Agency and Partnerships for Schools . The SFA was formed on 1 April 2010, following the closure of the Learning and Skills Council. David Withey is the agency's chief executive. Skills England
1809-562: 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
1876-726: 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
1943-569: The Big Lottery Fund. That development saw the construction of an additional sports hall , three new science laboratories , a purpose-built drama studio , a suite of music rooms, enhanced art and graphics areas and new modern foreign language classrooms. More recently the LA invested £2 million in a new classroom block housing Learning Support and Art/Media. The school had a ‘Millennium Centre’ which provides facilities for independent study and
2010-683: 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
2077-523: 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
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2144-646: The Prime Minister in 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
2211-445: 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
2278-467: The academies sector responded to 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
2345-498: 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 ,
2412-424: 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
2479-491: 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
2546-592: 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
2613-490: The dissolved Department for Business, Innovation and Skills . The department is led by the secretary of state for education . The permanent secretary from December 2020 is Susan Acland-Hood. DfE is responsible for education, children's services, higher and further education policy, apprenticeships, and wider skills in England, and equalities. The predecessor department employed the equivalent of 2,695 staff as of April 2008 and as at June 2016, DfE had reduced its workforce to
2680-485: 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
2747-465: The equivalent of 2,301 staff. In 2015–16, the DfE has a budget of £58.2bn, which includes £53.6bn resource spending and £4.6bn of capital investments. The Department for Education's ministers are as follows, with cabinet members in bold: The management board is made up of: Non-executive board members: As at 2 August 2016, the DfE has five main sites: The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA)
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2814-501: The following departments:- This building is on the southern part of the academy site and houses the main school hall, the main reception, senior management suite, library, learning support and pastoral support as well as the following departments:- The West Wing was constructed following the merger of Ryton and Hookergate Schools and houses the Sixth Form Centre as well as the following departments:- In 2019, Thorp Academy
2881-467: 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
2948-409: 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
3015-502: 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
3082-530: 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
3149-580: 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,
3216-658: The new trust will rebrand and parents must pay for new school uniform. New rules, staff and systems are set in place. Department for Education King Charles III [REDACTED] William, Prince of Wales [REDACTED] Charles III ( King-in-Council ) [REDACTED] Starmer ministry ( L ) Keir Starmer ( L ) Angela Rayner ( L ) ( King-in-Parliament ) [REDACTED] Charles III [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] The Lord Reed The Lord Hodge Andrew Bailey Monetary Policy Committee The Department for Education ( DfE )
3283-486: 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
3350-488: 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
3417-457: 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
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#17328008285453484-531: 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
3551-534: 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
3618-522: The responsibilities and resources of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). In June 2012 the Department for Education committed a breach of the UK's Data Protection Act due to a security flaw on its website which made email addresses, passwords and comments of people responding to consultation documents available for download. In July 2016, the department took over responsibilities for higher and further education and for apprenticeship from
3685-508: The reviews for not directly including providers of post-16 education other than colleges, such as school and academy sixth forms and independent training providers. In 2018, The Department for Education confirmed their commitment to forming positive relationships with the voluntary and community sector. In 2020 the department began funding the National Tutoring Programme which employed private companies to deliver
3752-543: 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
3819-403: The school should remain open. The school's rating declined during this time from "good, with outstanding features" to receiving a Notice to Improve in 2011 which was removed in March 2012 when the school was judged Satisfactory. The school was judged to have serious deficiencies in September 2013. In 2003/4 the school improved some facilities thanks to a £3 million investment by Gateshead LEA and
3886-477: 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
3953-718: 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
4020-583: The two schools merging, the school was renamed Charles Thorp Comprehensive School. The school later converted into an academy sponsored by Northern Education Trust and was renamed as Thorp Academy. The academy has demonstrated ongoing academic success and in 2019 attained a Progress 8 score of +0.33 which was in the top 10% of schools in Tyne & Wear and the top 11% of schools in North East England . The school has demonstrated academic excellence in
4087-739: 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
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#17328008285454154-485: 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
4221-657: Was formed on 1 April 2017 following the merger of the Education Funding Agency and the Skills Funding Agency. Previously the Education Funding Agency (EFA) was responsible for distributing funding for state education in England for 3- to 19-year-olds, as well as managing the estates of schools , and colleges and the Skills Funding Agency was responsible for funding skills training for further education in England and running
4288-493: Was rated "good" by Ofsted in all areas with inspectors stating that "This is a rapidly improving school. Leaders, including governors, provide strong leadership that is unashamedly focused on improving the life chances of every pupil." Ofsted also noted that "The behaviour of pupils is excellent. Pupils engage in mature conversation with their peers and staff. A positive working atmosphere exists in and around school." Academy (English school) An academy school in England
4355-815: 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
4422-497: 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
4489-496: 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
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