Search Mobile

collapse

already registered?

Please sign in with your existing account details.

Email address

Password

need to register?

Register to access exclusive content, sign up to receive our updates and personalise your experience on brownejacobson.com.

Privacy statement - Terms and conditions

Forgotten your password?

collapseSign

Browne Jacobson home

Education home

Insights

Blogs

The business of running a school

the business of running a school

13 April 2010

According to recent reports the first private companies that want to run national chains of schools have applied for accreditation. Businesses including VT Group, Serco and Edison Learning have applied to become Accredited Schools Providers (ASPs) and given their education sector experience they are likely to receive accreditation as ASPs, allowing them to sponsor up to two academies, or support up to two National Challenge Trusts (NCTs). Once their record is established, the companies are likely to apply to become Accredited Schools Groups to allow them to operate larger chains of schools in the future.

Many, including the current government, feel it is inappropriate for profit driven organisations to be running schools. However, profit making in the education sector already exists and if large chains of schools are to represent the future of education businesses like VT Group and SERCO will argue they need the financial incentives to help turn the vision into reality.

related opinions

School uniform under media spotlight

The new academic year has started with controversy over school uniform. Last week, a government inquiry heard evidence that costs for parents are being exacerbated by compulsory branded uniform, including clothing with school logos, and operating contractual arrangements for the supply of these items with single retailers.

View blog

Education Secretary confirms DfE 'backing' for exclusions

Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, has confirmed that head teachers who take “the decision to either suspend or expel a pupil because they need to do it in order to be able to enforce proper and full discipline in their school, and making sure that they're protecting the whole interests of the school, will always have my backing".

View blog

Welcome news for sixth form colleges looking to academise

The Government has accepted calls from sixth form colleges to reopen the option to become academies.

View blog

RSE guidance issued - but do teachers feel ready?

In our previous blog we updated you on the new requirements to teach relationships, health and sex education (elements of which are phase specific) which will become mandatory in September 2020.

View blog

View all blogs