Gloucester Education Question Time, last night, 06.03.15

Teachers, governors and parents made their voices heard as they raised questions about changes in the education system.

A Question Time-style event saw Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union for Teachers, field questions at Beaufort Academy School on Friday night.

She was joined on the panel by the parliamentary candidates for Gloucester - Richard Graham, Sophy Gardner, Jeremy Hilton, Richard Ford and Jonathan Ingleby.

Concerns about 'micro-management' and a rise in unqualified teachers under the academy model were among those raised.

Audience member Judith Norman said: "I have been a governor at a primary school for 57 years. I would like to know what anyone can do to stop the micro-management of school and let us get on with our jobs."

Mr Hilton said: "I believe it is up to the governing body to manage the school and we should leave it to the local level people.

"The school in my area does an excellent job, they have a great headteacher and chairman of the governors.

"Yes, Ofsted should check if the school is being run correctly but we should leave it to the governing body."

Jeff Davies also raised a question about the rise of unqualified teachers in academies and free schools. He said: "I am sure no one would like an unqualified surgeon operating on them."

Mrs Blower responded: "If a school wants to have someone come in who is a engineer or fluent in Mandarin they are always welcome but we need teachers who have qualified teacher status. We do not want to sack teachers who don't have this but get them on the route so they can gain this status."

Academies like Beaufort, in Tuffley, Millbrook in Brockworth and Gloucester Academy, have more control over how they are run but the model as a whole has attracted criticism for a lack of accountability.TEACHERS, governors and parents made their voices heard as they raised questions about changes in the education system.

A Question Time-style event saw Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union for Teachers, field questions at Beaufort Academy School on Friday night.

She was joined on the panel by the parliamentary candidates for Gloucester - Richard Graham, Sophy Gardner, Jeremy Hilton, Richard Ford and Jonathan Ingleby.

Concerns about 'micro-management' and a rise in unqualified teachers under the academy model were among those raised.

Audience member Judith Norman said: "I have been a governor at a primary school for 57 years. I would like to know what anyone can do to stop the micro-management of school and let us get on with our jobs."

Mr Hilton said: "I believe it is up to the governing body to manage the school and we should leave it to the local level people.

"The school in my area does an excellent job, they have a great headteacher and chairman of the governors.

"Yes, Ofsted should check if the school is being run correctly but we should leave it to the governing body."

Jeff Davies also raised a question about the rise of unqualified teachers in academies and free schools. He said: "I am sure no one would like an unqualified surgeon operating on them."

Mrs Blower responded: "If a school wants to have someone come in who is a engineer or fluent in Mandarin they are always welcome but we need teachers who have qualified teacher status. We do not want to sack teachers who don't have this but get them on the route so they can gain this status."

Academies like Beaufort, in Tuffley, Millbrook in Brockworth and Gloucester Academy, have more control over how they are run but the model as a whole has attracted criticism for a lack of accountability.

Read more: Gloucester governors raise concerns over the micro-management of schools Read more: www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Gloucester-governors-raise-concerns-micro/story-26134708-detail/story.html#ixzz3Toem4cZp Follow us: @gloscitizen on Twitter | GlosCitizen on Facebook
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