Prospects support for Academies
Prospects supports schools wishing to convert to academy status and has recently engaged in more work within the Academies and Free School programmes.
Our support includes practical help with the conversion process such as working with school leaders on the future ethos and direction of the new academy, to matters such as HR, property asset management and ICT.
Prospects offers an extensive programme of professional development for academies and schools across the country. We are also one of the UK’s leading school improvement specialists, through Prospects Improve. In fact we have helped over 1,000 schools, both primary and secondary, in the last two years.
We are the lead sponsor for the Gloucester Academy, which opened in September 2010, and Prospects is on the Department for Education’s Academy and Free School Education Framework.
Our approach encourages schools to retain a sense of individuality and we aim to create a community of learning and best practice based on our experience working with many different schools and local communities. We have a clearly articulated vision for “A Prospects Academy” and the standards of teaching and learning that we would expect to achieve.
By the very definition of academies and schools, no two institutions are the same. We will provide all our academies with the necessary support to help them attain high standards and to benefit from the freedoms and flexibilities which academy status brings.
If you have any questions regarding this part of Prospects work please contact Leslie Stephen, our Director of Academies and Free Schools, at leslie.stephen@prospects.co.uk.
Academys and free schools infomation
To find out more please click on the following links:
Academies and Free Schools Education Adviser Framework
Prospects is delighted to confirm that we have been included on the recently announced Academies and Free Schools Education Adviser Framework.
The role of Education Advisers within new Academy and Free Schools projects is to work with the sponsor of the Academy or proposer of the Free School to help translate their education vision into a reality, taking account of the curriculum offer, the staffing structure for the Academy or Free School and the aspirations of their local community.
Free Schools are all-ability, state-funded schools with Academy status, set up in response to parental and community demand. Free Schools will enable parents, teachers and other interested groups to create schools and improve standards for all children, regardless of their background. These Academies could be schools for children of any age between 5yrs – 18yrs and could offer mainstream, special school or alternative provision.
Academy sponsors come from all walks of life and include educational institutions, individual philanthropists, corporate organisations, the voluntary sector and faith communities. Free school proposers include parent groups, teacher groups, education charities and local business interests. Their knowledge of project delivery and the education system will vary. The work that Prospects will undertake in supporting sponsors or proposers of Free Schools will take this into account when delivering projects.
Vincent McDonnell, Managing Director of Prospects said, "We are truly delighted to be on this framework. As an Academy sponsor ourselves, we believe we have a unique understanding and appreciation of the role the Education Adviser plays in the development of a new Academy or Free School. We are confident that in Prospects, sponsors of Academies and Proposers of Free Schools will find a team of colleagues with the skills, knowledge and experience to really help them make a difference to the lives of the young people in their community".
If you have any questions regarding this part of Prospects work please contact Leslie Stephen, our Director of Academies and Free Schools, at leslie.stephen@prospects.co.uk.