October 2016
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This conference focused on the future for England’s school system following the range of reforms proposed in the Education Green Paper and the Education White Paper published earlier this year.
Delegates considered the future role for grammar schools in light of the recent Government proposals to allow existing grammar schools to expand and new selective schools to be opened in areas where there is a demand for school places. They also considered the likely impact on England’s school system of the anticipated rise in the number of faith schools, as a result of the proposals in the Green Paper to reduce selection restrictions.
Further sessions focused on the reforms highlighted in the Education White Paper to create a school-led system with schools working towards or becoming an academy by 2022. Topics of discussion included implementation issues for all schools and academy chains posed by the proposals for all schools rated as ‘inadequate’ to convert to academy status. Concerns raised about the suitability of academy status for primary and smaller schools were also considered.
Following the launch of the Education Select Committee inquiry into MATs, sessions also focused on their future role in improving standards, their overall performance and the proposed reforms to accountability and governance.
The changes to the school accountability framework and the next stages of reform were also considered on the day - including the role of and the capacity of Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) and Headteacher Boards (HTBs) in holding schools to account.
