November 2015
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The conference provided a timely opportunity to assess the future of England’s school system - focusing on the impact of the proposed reforms under the new Education Bill, including the conversion of schools ‘requiring improvement’ into academies and the further expansion of the Free Schools programme. Delegates discussed the likely impact on remaining maintained schools, the provision of local authority education services and tackling school place shortages.
Sessions also focused on measures aimed at raising overall school standards, including innovation in teaching practice at a local level and encouraging collaborative partnerships between schools.
There was further discussion on changes to the school accountability framework and the next stages of reform - including the role for local authorities, following the creation of the new Headteacher Boards (HTBs), Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) and the granting of powers to Ofsted to inspect academy chains - as well as concerns around financial mismanagement and the drive to improve the overall financial oversight of free schools and academies.
