Academies vs. Private Education in the UK

With the UK’s burgeoning academy-led education system growing, the question of private education versus academy education is of crucial consideration for many students and their parents. As psychometric testing such as SATS go on the table for re-assessment, parents face the decision between free academy education and fee-paying private tutorship.

Assessments generally fall into six categories – facilities, teaching standards, exam and aptitude test results, budget, administrative support and specific subject provision (e.g. arts academies, sports institutes etc)

Academies
Academies can be created from both private and public sector schools. Private schools were amongst the 1,500 secondary educational facilities invited to take up academy status. The aim of which was to open up and utilise their tried and tested methods to a broader social range of potential students.

Academies are central government-funded schools which operate outside local authority control. For example, setting their own curriculum (making such psychometric tests as SATS optional), retaining control over 100% of their budget, setting tailored teacher’s pay levels etc. The idea being to remove bureaucracy, eliminate frustrating target-driven educational standards and allow more flexible learning.

The likes of Birkenhead High School for Girls (former member of the Girls Day School Trust) converted from fee-paying private school to government-funded academy status in 2008. Exam results and aptitude tests have warmly reflected no deterioration in education standards, lending credence to the coalition government’s mission to make higher standards of education available to all.

Private Schools
Education standards in private schools are rarely of concern, with most enjoying a comfortable high spot in league tables. However, the cost of such education (and it’s unattainability to those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds) is something previous Labour leaders and the current coalition government are in agreement over eliminating.

Whilst academies seem to be on the rise, most private schools are unhindered by the pressure to compete. The UK stigma that a person has to pay through the nose for a good education is something the Academy Bill seeks to eradicate.

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