Slater Baker is delighted to be working in association with Prospects by providing speakers for a series of half day seminars on “Academies – the questions you want answered.”
Academies
The Questions You Want Answered
A half day seminar that will answer the questions you may have about the issues and opportunities in considering a move to Academy status.
Prospects July 2010 Academy Briefings — Event Information
Following the publication of the Academies Bill, you may well be giving consideration to applying for Academy status. Clearly there is a great deal to be considered in this change of status. To support you and your Governing Body in your discussion and to help you reflect on the benefits and challenges of moving to become an Academy, I am delighted to have the opportunity to invite you to a local half day seminar that will provide you with the unique opportunity to:
Listen to those intimately involved in the thinking and policy surrounding the delivery of Academies.
Have the opportunity to discuss with fellow head teachers, senior managers and Chairs of Governors the issues that you need to consider regarding a potential move towards Academy status.
The seminar builds on the announcement of the ‘Academies Bill’ in the Queen’s speech which will provide outstanding schools with the opportunity to become Academies, requiring schools to consider the implications of:
• Moving out of Local Authority control
• The financial implications and benefits of a move to Academy status
• Transfer of assets and responsibilities
• Additional freedoms including control over pay and conditions
• Your ongoing local relationships with other Local Authority schools and the Council
Dependent on date and venue the seminar will include contributions from three speakers drawn from the following:
• Graham Shaw, Schofield Sweeney Solicitors
• The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Estelle Morris
• Martin Rogers, Leading Education Policy Consultant
• Mike Gibbons, Chief Executive of the Richard Rose Academies
• Phil Willis, Ex-Liberal Democrat Spokesman on Education
The seminar will be of particular benefit to:
Head Teachers and senior school leaders providing you with the information you will want to consider in reflecting on the benefits that Academy status could bring to your
school with the challenges of working within a local context.
Chairs of Governors and Members of Governing Bodies providing you with the information you need to consider in reflecting on the additional responsibilities and benefits
that would come to the school on being granted Academy status.
Prospects July 2010 Academy Briefings — Profiles of Contributors
Graham Shaw
Graham Shaw is a Partner and Head of Education at Schofield Sweeney Solicitors and has a national profile for advising on Academies. His experience includes single and federated Academy projects totalling over 30 Academies where lead and co-sponsors include schools,universities, colleges, charities and the third sector, the NHS and Local Authorities. Graham has a thorough understanding of the current legal framework for academies and what the landscape will look like under the Academies Bill.
The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Estelle Morris
Member of the House of Lords, Chair of the Strategy Board, Institute of Effective Learning, University of York. Estelle is foremost an educationalist, she combines a career in Education, the Arts and Politics. She has a tremendous ability to explain policy and allow people to see the “big picture”. She pulls threads together and maintains momentum effortlessly. She is a great speaker and fellow educationalists always enjoy her genuine enthusiasm for improving the lives of children through learning.
Martin Rogers
Martin Rogers is a Policy Consultant. Prior to this he was head of the Children’s Services Network (CSN). He specialises in policy issues around access, equity and accountability in
the school system, trusts and Academies, and the role of Local Authorities and Councillors.
One of Martin’s particular interests is admissions policy and practice, and its importance in determining which children go to which schools. He is also working on approaches to
narrowing the performance gap between the most and least advantaged pupils.
Mike Gibbons
In 2002, thirty years and four headships after he first started teaching, Mike joined the Senior Civil Service as the founding Lead Director of The Innovation Unit. Mike has led four large schools, three in the Midlands and the North and then became Principal and Chief
Executive of a 3-18 International School in Brussels with students from 65 different countries.
More recently Mike has taken over the role of the new Chief Executive of the Richard Rose Federation in Carlisle, which combines three former schools into two academies. He lectures on innovation and reform in education and public services and has worked with a wide range of agencies and organisations both public and private.
Phil Willis
Phil Willis has many years experience as Lib Dem senior spokesperson and policy adviser and until recently chaired the Science and Technology Select Committee.
From 1999 to 2005, Phil Willis was the Liberal Democrat Shadow Education and Skills Secretary, having previously served as Higher Education spokesperson and spokesperson on Northern Ireland. Following this, he was appointed chair of the Innovation Universities nd Skills Select Committee before chairing the influential Science and Technology
Committee. Phil served for 20 years as Head Teacher of two large comprehensive schools and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the light of the new coalition
government’s vision of education in the future.
Seminar dates:
London July 12th Prospero House (near London Bridge) 9.30 am
Manchester July 14th Lancashire County Cricket Club 9.30 am
Birmingham July 15th The Centennial Centre 9.30 am
Costs:
First delegate £95
Second and subsequent delegate £85
Timetable for the Day:
08.30 Registration/Breakfast/Refreshments
09.30 Welcome and Introductions
09.35 Academy Status; The new Academies Bill and what it will mean for you?
10.30 Coffee Break
10.45 Running an Academy: The Freedoms and Realities
11.40 What needs to be considered in making the decision?
12.30 Questions to the Panel
12.45 Close and Depart
To register for these half day seminars please contact:
Katy.Swetman@prospects.co.uk
Telephone: 020 8315 1520
Fax: 020 8315 1549
A full seminar programme with details of venue will be sent on receipt of your booking