5 ms·

I'll write it all up and post it to HN shortly (will check with other members that they are happy to publicise it first). Its an academy school so they are more

by meaty 14y ago

I'll write it all up and post it to HN shortly (will check with other members that they are happy to publicise it first). Its an academy school so they are more flexible and have 3rd party funding. Basically, the governers have a greater stake in the school.

pbhjpbhj 14y ago
Do you have a financial stake in the company (ie school) then. Does it trouble you in any way that your volunteer effort is going to someone else's profit instead of entirely to the children of the school?
- jiggy2011 14y ago
  Academy schools are non profits. They are not private schools in the normal sense and there are no tuition fees charged. They are basically an experiment to run a school with less dictates from local government so do not have to follow as many rules. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_(English_school) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_(English_school)
  - pbhjpbhj 14y ago
    I must have it wrong, whilst I understood the schools could be non-profits in a limited sense (though wages of course can be inflated to extract funds) I had it that 3rd party investors were capable of extract a profit from their lending and other involvement. If there are no profits to make, how do you convince companies to get involved; most companies don't appear to be so altruistic. I think perhaps I'm under a misapprehension on labelling, that Free Schools are a subset of Academies; see eg http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/may/25/free-schools-private-companies http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/may/25/free-schools....
- meaty 14y ago
  I have no financial stake myself. The funders do not get lobbying power and it is entirely non profit.
keithpeter 14y ago
Would be most interested to read that. And your strategic goals for the IT investment (minimum 3 salaries by the sound of it and quite a lot of kit)
- meaty 14y ago
  Meeting on Friday to discuss. Budget was already available, just misplaced to be honest. I'm sure the state managed predecessors were getting backhanders. The stupid thing is they did a fund raiser for to fix a hole in the roof!? (£300 cost) and built raised vegetable beds for the students at a cost of £1500 which were never filled and are used for storing games equipment under tarp. The mismanagement is why it is an academy now.
  - keithpeter 14y ago
    "I'm sure the state managed predecessors were getting backhanders." If you have evidence, you should go to the police. An example (plucked from Google) http://www.sfo.gov.uk/press-room/latest-press-releases/press-releases-2010/four-sentenced-in-shropshire-training-contracts-bribery-and-money-laundering-case.aspx http://www.sfo.gov.uk/press-room/latest-press-releases/press... I personally would be interested in your (collective) big ideas about how IT can support and enhance learning. The strategy thing. With as much detail as your colleagues and sponsors feel could be released. A good write up of that would work wonders for the UK perception of the Academy programme in general and your school in particular. Especially if you include staff development and mentoring in that.

by meaty 14y ago

pbhjpbhj 14y ago

Do you have a financial stake in the company (ie school) then. Does it trouble you in any way that your volunteer effort is going to someone else's profit instead of entirely to the children of the school?

jiggy2011 14y ago
Academy schools are non profits. They are not private schools in the normal sense and there are no tuition fees charged. They are basically an experiment to run a school with less dictates from local government so do not have to follow as many rules. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_(English_school) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_(English_school)
- pbhjpbhj 14y ago
  I must have it wrong, whilst I understood the schools could be non-profits in a limited sense (though wages of course can be inflated to extract funds) I had it that 3rd party investors were capable of extract a profit from their lending and other involvement. If there are no profits to make, how do you convince companies to get involved; most companies don't appear to be so altruistic. I think perhaps I'm under a misapprehension on labelling, that Free Schools are a subset of Academies; see eg http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/may/25/free-schools-private-companies http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/may/25/free-schools....
meaty 14y ago
I have no financial stake myself. The funders do not get lobbying power and it is entirely non profit.

keithpeter 14y ago

Would be most interested to read that. And your strategic goals for the IT investment (minimum 3 salaries by the sound of it and quite a lot of kit)

meaty 14y ago
Meeting on Friday to discuss. Budget was already available, just misplaced to be honest. I'm sure the state managed predecessors were getting backhanders. The stupid thing is they did a fund raiser for to fix a hole in the roof!? (£300 cost) and built raised vegetable beds for the students at a cost of £1500 which were never filled and are used for storing games equipment under tarp. The mismanagement is why it is an academy now.
- keithpeter 14y ago
  "I'm sure the state managed predecessors were getting backhanders." If you have evidence, you should go to the police. An example (plucked from Google) http://www.sfo.gov.uk/press-room/latest-press-releases/press-releases-2010/four-sentenced-in-shropshire-training-contracts-bribery-and-money-laundering-case.aspx http://www.sfo.gov.uk/press-room/latest-press-releases/press... I personally would be interested in your (collective) big ideas about how IT can support and enhance learning. The strategy thing. With as much detail as your colleagues and sponsors feel could be released. A good write up of that would work wonders for the UK perception of the Academy programme in general and your school in particular. Especially if you include staff development and mentoring in that.