Flagship policy for academies dealt blow by Catholic schools

ONE OF the Government's flagship education policies has suffered a blow after Catholic schools were told it would be "unwise" to apply for academy status.

Guidance sent to more than 2,000 Catholic primary and secondary schools cast doubt on the funding opportunities being offered to schools.

The Catholic Education Service for England and Wales said there was little precise detail on funding and advised "great caution".

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Chief executive Oona Stannard wrote that under the plans, land and property of an existing school would transfer to new academy trusts.

"The funding opportunities may initially seem attractive to schools but remember there is, as yet, little precise detail on this and the payment of our 10 per cent to capital costs at present buys our sector a degree of valuable independence along the lines of 'he who pays the piper calls the tune'.

"We would be very unwise to trade this for an uncertain future and a higher level of risk. Catholic voluntary schools are already in Trusteeship, usually diocesan but sometimes of a religious order.

"Diocesan permission/permission of the trustees would be needed to pursue academy status. This requirement is upheld by the Academies Bill. Trustees are unlikely to give their permission for the reasons below.

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"The land and property of an existing school would transfer to the new academy trust. Much of the land and buildings of Catholic voluntary schools are owned by the dioceses or other religious trusteeship; they are unlikely to allow the transfer of their assets to what would be an independent school and its qualifying academy proprietor, ie to give up these assets.

"Therefore, a school wanting to become an academy might effectively become homeless. There is no apparent provision for this in the Academies Bill," she wrote.

On Wednesday the Yorkshire Post revealed that at least three schools in the region had expressed an interest in joining the flagship programme.

This includes three outstanding primary schools and one of Yorkshire's best performing comprehensives, St Aidan's Church of England High School in Harrogate.

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Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB, said: "It is wholly understandable this reaction from the Catholic Church on academies. The points raised by the Church are very important and those pushing academies do not fully understand the impact on faith, voluntary and community schools.

"Much more time and thought needs to be given to assess the impact, rather than fast tracking public assets out of public control."

Education Secretary Michael Gove announced plans last month to grant state schools more independence, and wrote to headteachers in every primary, secondary and special school in England inviting them to apply for academy status.

The measures, contained in a new Academies Bill, allow schools to opt out of local authority control. Schools which take up the offer will be given funding direct, and will get the extra money usually given to their local council to provide educational services.

Mr Gove said earlier this month that, so far, 1,114 schools had expressed an interest in becoming an academy.