Business jargon is all about selling the ordinary but making it seem somehow extraordinary. Sadly we have allowed big business to control schools via the Academisation process. They all want to sell their particular brand of “ordinary“to parents.
Same reason ”sound” wasn’t acceptable to Ofsted
Same reason ”sound” wasn’t acceptable to Ofsted
October 3, 2026 at 8:24 AM
Business jargon is all about selling the ordinary but making it seem somehow extraordinary. Sadly we have allowed big business to control schools via the Academisation process. They all want to sell their particular brand of “ordinary“to parents.
Same reason ”sound” wasn’t acceptable to Ofsted
Same reason ”sound” wasn’t acceptable to Ofsted
Plus in this diary column: Catholic academy conversions continue to prop up academisation numbers, with news that resistance on the South coast to one of them appears to have folded.
October 2, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Plus in this diary column: Catholic academy conversions continue to prop up academisation numbers, with news that resistance on the South coast to one of them appears to have folded.
New: Collapsed academy trust to transfer schools to other chains-but where were their communities’ inputs?
educationuncovered.co.uk/analysis/dia...
educationuncovered.co.uk/analysis/dia...
Education Uncovered | Diary| Collapsed academy trust to transfer schools to other chains-but where were their communities’ inputs?
Plus: Catholic academy conversions continue to prop up academisation numbers. And tentative new signs of DfE doing some listening on children’s mental health?
educationuncovered.co.uk
October 2, 2026 at 3:31 PM
New: Collapsed academy trust to transfer schools to other chains-but where were their communities’ inputs?
educationuncovered.co.uk/analysis/dia...
educationuncovered.co.uk/analysis/dia...
Ah, I'm still talking about Scotland, which escaped academisation, TBTG (and the SNP). Again, reversing privatisation is important but it's not a cure-all without increased funding, and local authorities have been swallowing year-on-year cuts for almost 2 decades now. It's brutal.
September 27, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Ah, I'm still talking about Scotland, which escaped academisation, TBTG (and the SNP). Again, reversing privatisation is important but it's not a cure-all without increased funding, and local authorities have been swallowing year-on-year cuts for almost 2 decades now. It's brutal.
Wait Sam, I thought that Ofsted, Gove and academisation had eliminated crap schools and a lack of reading.
September 25, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Wait Sam, I thought that Ofsted, Gove and academisation had eliminated crap schools and a lack of reading.
The Diocese of Lancaster must urgently answer questions in ‘a prompt and detailed’ manner over plans to academise a rated Outstanding school in Preston, according to the area's local MP Maya Ellis.
Diocese of Lancaster refuses to answer questions over alleged removal of governors who oppose Corpus Christi academisation – Blog Preston
<p>The Ribble Valley MP has asked for transparency – the Diocese of Lancaster has said no. </p>
www.blogpreston.co.uk
September 25, 2026 at 7:06 AM
The Diocese of Lancaster must urgently answer questions in ‘a prompt and detailed’ manner over plans to academise a rated Outstanding school in Preston, according to the area's local MP Maya Ellis.
MP speaks out after schools closed for strike over academisation plans
MP speaks out after schools closed for strike over academisation plans
An MP has spoken out after two schools went on strike over academisation plans.
dlvr.it
September 25, 2026 at 5:26 AM
MP speaks out after schools closed for strike over academisation plans
What happened is academisation and the dominance of the brand.
September 23, 2026 at 3:28 PM
What happened is academisation and the dominance of the brand.
What is The Portal?
A non-profit Community Benefit Society for ages 4–18 offering a genuine alternative to state academisation & private education.
Built on student democracy, self-directed discovery, and learner autonomy—run by and for our local community. 🌿
www.theportalnorfolk.org.uk
A non-profit Community Benefit Society for ages 4–18 offering a genuine alternative to state academisation & private education.
Built on student democracy, self-directed discovery, and learner autonomy—run by and for our local community. 🌿
www.theportalnorfolk.org.uk
Home | The Portal Norfolk
www.theportalnorfolk.org.uk
September 22, 2026 at 4:48 PM
What is The Portal?
A non-profit Community Benefit Society for ages 4–18 offering a genuine alternative to state academisation & private education.
Built on student democracy, self-directed discovery, and learner autonomy—run by and for our local community. 🌿
www.theportalnorfolk.org.uk
A non-profit Community Benefit Society for ages 4–18 offering a genuine alternative to state academisation & private education.
Built on student democracy, self-directed discovery, and learner autonomy—run by and for our local community. 🌿
www.theportalnorfolk.org.uk
On Friday, Education Uncovered revealed how guidance to schools from the Archdiocese appeared to tell them to consult on academisation – and then start the conversion process, whatever the community’s reaction.
September 22, 2026 at 12:52 PM
On Friday, Education Uncovered revealed how guidance to schools from the Archdiocese appeared to tell them to consult on academisation – and then start the conversion process, whatever the community’s reaction.
It’s actually unclear whether the governing body has taken the initial decision to academise or not, as no governing body minutes, or even dates of meetings at which academisation was taken, have been released. There was a parent on the governing body until early June.
September 22, 2026 at 12:52 PM
It’s actually unclear whether the governing body has taken the initial decision to academise or not, as no governing body minutes, or even dates of meetings at which academisation was taken, have been released. There was a parent on the governing body until early June.
New: Is governing body of school, at heart of controversy over Catholic diocese’s academisation drive, constituted in line with the law?
educationuncovered.co.uk/news/is-gove...
St Anthony of Padua primary, in Liverpool, has only one elected parent on its governing body.
educationuncovered.co.uk/news/is-gove...
St Anthony of Padua primary, in Liverpool, has only one elected parent on its governing body.
Education Uncovered | News| Is governing body of school, at heart of controversy over Catholic diocese’s academisation drive, constituted in line with the law?
St Anthony of Padua primary, in Liverpool, has only one parent governor.
educationuncovered.co.uk
September 22, 2026 at 12:51 PM
New: Is governing body of school, at heart of controversy over Catholic diocese’s academisation drive, constituted in line with the law?
educationuncovered.co.uk/news/is-gove...
St Anthony of Padua primary, in Liverpool, has only one elected parent on its governing body.
educationuncovered.co.uk/news/is-gove...
St Anthony of Padua primary, in Liverpool, has only one elected parent on its governing body.
He was utterly appalling as Education Secretary. Even Cameron removed him from post. His legacy of academisation and an outdated curriculum is dreadful.
September 22, 2026 at 10:42 AM
He was utterly appalling as Education Secretary. Even Cameron removed him from post. His legacy of academisation and an outdated curriculum is dreadful.
Also part of the academisation process - the Newcastle high schools became academies one by one over the 2010s, and each one started expelling the worst kids, so in the end they were all going to the last non-academy high school (Heaton Manor) with predictable results
September 21, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Also part of the academisation process - the Newcastle high schools became academies one by one over the 2010s, and each one started expelling the worst kids, so in the end they were all going to the last non-academy high school (Heaton Manor) with predictable results
Teachers at Corpus Christi Catholic High School in Fulwood were joined by students when they started strike action against plans to move the school into a Multi-Academy Trust.
‘We want them to leave us alone’: Corpus Christi teachers and students walk out over ‘forced’ academisation plans – Blog Preston
<p>The action is from 21 September to 22 September.</p>
www.blogpreston.co.uk
September 21, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Teachers at Corpus Christi Catholic High School in Fulwood were joined by students when they started strike action against plans to move the school into a Multi-Academy Trust.
Staff at Corpus Christi high school begin a two day walk out over academy plans
Corpus Christi to close for two days as staff walk out over forced academisation of ‘Outstanding’ school – Blog Preston
<p>Staff at the school cannot understand why things would change at a school rated ‘Outstanding’ in its most recent inspection.</p>
www.blogpreston.co.uk
September 21, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Staff at Corpus Christi high school begin a two day walk out over academy plans
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
Save our Catholic Schools from Academisation
The Archdiocese of Liverpool plans to force all schools to convert to an academy. Within the Liverpool City Council area, there are 42 Catholic schools who are yet to convert. Throughout the North Wes...
you.38degrees.org.uk
September 19, 2026 at 12:02 PM
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
Please give this a sign. The church wants more control over Catholic schools and I don’t think this is acceptable for a million reasons. The @liverpoolpost.bsky.social did a great piece on one of the schools this week. www.livpost.co.uk/in-mossley-h...
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
Save our Catholic Schools from Academisation
The Archdiocese of Liverpool plans to force all schools to convert to an academy. Within the Liverpool City Council area, there are 42 Catholic schools who are yet to convert. Throughout the North Wes...
you.38degrees.org.uk
September 18, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Please give this a sign. The church wants more control over Catholic schools and I don’t think this is acceptable for a million reasons. The @liverpoolpost.bsky.social did a great piece on one of the schools this week. www.livpost.co.uk/in-mossley-h...
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
Some 117 parents – at this school with 216 pupils – have written to the school urging the academisation be paused, including Biblical quotation.
September 18, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Some 117 parents – at this school with 216 pupils – have written to the school urging the academisation be paused, including Biblical quotation.
Detailed piece on the controversy around one of the more than 200 schools planned for academisation by the Archbishop of Liverpool.
September 18, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Detailed piece on the controversy around one of the more than 200 schools planned for academisation by the Archbishop of Liverpool.
New: Consult your communities on academisation – and then go ahead with it anyway, Catholic diocese appears to tell its schools
educationuncovered.co.uk/news/consult...
educationuncovered.co.uk/news/consult...
Education Uncovered | News| Consult your communities on academisation – and then go ahead with it anyway, Catholic diocese appears to tell its schools
Archdiocese of Liverpool faces opposition from many parents, staff and seemingly the local Labour MP against the conversion of one school, which has been proposed as academisation of more than 200 loo...
educationuncovered.co.uk
September 18, 2026 at 2:20 PM
New: Consult your communities on academisation – and then go ahead with it anyway, Catholic diocese appears to tell its schools
educationuncovered.co.uk/news/consult...
educationuncovered.co.uk/news/consult...
My office has had several constituents get in touch detailing their concerns regarding the proposed academisation of St Anthony of Padua Catholic Primary School. I have written to the Archdiocese of Liverpool, the Chair of Governors, and the Schools Minister.
September 18, 2026 at 9:43 AM
My office has had several constituents get in touch detailing their concerns regarding the proposed academisation of St Anthony of Padua Catholic Primary School. I have written to the Archdiocese of Liverpool, the Chair of Governors, and the Schools Minister.
A secondary school in Preston will be closed for two days as teachers walk out over plans to force the academisation of the school.
Corpus Christi to close for two days as teachers walk out over forced academisation of ‘Outstanding’ school – Blog Preston
<p>Staff at the school cannot understand why things would change at a school rated ‘Outstanding’ in its most recent inspection.</p>
www.blogpreston.co.uk
September 17, 2026 at 7:04 AM
A secondary school in Preston will be closed for two days as teachers walk out over plans to force the academisation of the school.
I would be most sceptical of the free school and academisation aspects. But LLMs mean that I don’t think there’s any meaningful assessment metric other than exams.
September 14, 2026 at 4:31 PM
I would be most sceptical of the free school and academisation aspects. But LLMs mean that I don’t think there’s any meaningful assessment metric other than exams.
Forcing academisation everywhere created a whole load of unregulated fiefdoms often dominated by the some pretty unpleasant people. The bullying of staff that now occurs across the state sector with almost no recourse for victims of it is an underrated factor in teacher retention.
If Gove/Gibb had let academisation run organically to add provision mix where needed and built a London Challenge-style programme in every city/region with a focus on CPD and leadership building, their approach would have had buy-in from ambitious teachers keen to advance.
September 14, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Forcing academisation everywhere created a whole load of unregulated fiefdoms often dominated by the some pretty unpleasant people. The bullying of staff that now occurs across the state sector with almost no recourse for victims of it is an underrated factor in teacher retention.