Survey shows uncertainty and lack of support in schools

Released 03/01/2012

Results of the Key’s survey of school leaders, which had over 1500 respondents, have indicated there is lack of clarity and widespread uncertainty amongst school leaders

School leader survey indicates uncertainty

The survey was aimed at assessing the challenges currently faced by school leaders including; the impact of reduced budgets on school and local authority provision, financial implications for schools which choose to remain under local authority control, current government educational policy on social mobility, extending the school day, links between maintained and independent schools, and educational knowledge of governing bodies.

Lack of support

Almost 90% of respondents had seen a decrease in support provided by the Local Authorities, including a reduction in training, or increase in the cost of training making it less attainable. Due to this lack of support, schools have seen a vast increase in workload for administrative staff and reduced opportunities for continued professional development within the school.

Financial uncertainty

A lack of clarity about the implications of converting to academy status was also evident in the results, with 35% of school leaders still unclear about whether or not it would be financially beneficial to convert. Results indicated that small schools and special schools felt most uncertain about the financial implications of becoming an academy.

Nearly half of responders answered “yes” when asked if they thought schools which do not opt out of local authority control will find themselves at a financial disadvantage compared to those who do.

The survey also asked people to comment on their answer to this question, and the report gives the following sample comments:

“I think there will be disadvantages if local authority funding is cut, however for a small school such as ours staying with the authority is the best option currently.”
“No, because I do not believe that academies fully understand the total cost of becoming an academy.”
“If not enough schools are buying local authority services then what is offered will become more expensive. This becomes more likely if the local authority does not have the personnel to support schools adequately.”
“As local authorities disband or merge, making services more remote, schools will be forced to work together either as groups or via agencies such as Diocesan Boards for Schools, to seek out best value. A sense of déjà vu as, years down the road, local authorities will be formed again!”
“The issue is always around funding - it will be available for schools to set up the academies as it is a new project and the government needs it to succeed. However, what will happen in the future? How will schools be funded?”

School leaders who had recently been through the academy conversion process were asked “If…you have lost access to some local authority services, what financial/management issues has this raised?” The most common responses were:

Large increase in workload for support staff, especially school business managers
Loss of checking service for pupils applying for free school meals
Loss of admissions assistance
Loss of NQT support

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