UK: Academy schools [charters] struggle with ‘unsustainable’ deficits

Schools in England are merging into larger academy chains and slashing costs in a bid to manage “unsustainable” deficits, according to an authoritative survey of more than 1,000 academies.

The report by the Kreston academies group found that half of the schools had an operating deficit last year, with only stringent cuts and the sharing of resources within multi-academy trusts (Mats) stopping the figure from being higher.

The group said that while the average deficits at academies fell in 2018 compared with 2017, further spending reductions would be much harder to achieve, and uncertainty was being caused by higher pension contributions, increased teacher pay and crumbling school infrastructure.

“Our clients across England are telling us that the ‘easy savings’ have already been made,” said Pam Tuckett, the group’s chair. “We are seeing reductions in learning support assistants, and staff contact ratios will be increased to save costs. This means teachers spend longer in the classroom so, in theory, schools wouldn’t need as many teachers.

“There have been several years of cost-cutting and the trusts that we work with are telling us that there are no more areas where they can save significant costs without impacting on the way in which education is provided.”

Tuckett said it was “unsustainable” for schools to keep running deficits year after year, as many were now doing. “Eventually the reserves will run out,” she warned.

The report comes days after the government celebrated the news that 50% of England’s state school pupils were now educated in academies – schools outside local authority oversight that were first established under the last Labour government but were greatly expanded in England under Michael Gove as education secretary.

The survey found that financial pressures were driving standalone schools and small trusts to seek shelter within larger multi-academy trusts, and the average trust had grown from 3.5 schools per trust two years ago to 5.6 schools now.

Tuckett predicted that the trend for consolidation into larger trusts would continue while financial pressures remained. “With the weak financial position of schools in the maintained sector, it is likely that more schools and single academies that are failing financially will convert to become an academy as part of a Mat. Fortunately, there are many Mats that take this responsibility seriously and are willing to help.

“The trend of mergers and rebrokerage is likely to continue until trusts have achieved a size that enables them to take advantage of the economies of scale of a larger organisation,” Tuckett said, introducing the report.

“We continue to see a shift in the way a multi-academy trust is run, with some now operating on a far more commercial basis. While this may feel uncomfortable, it is a necessity if more efficiencies are to be found.”

Kreston, a network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in the education sector, compiled its survey from 370 academy trusts in England that manage 1,000 schools between them.

The findings match a report published by the Education Policy Institute at the start of the year, which estimated that half of all secondary academies and 60% of maintained secondary schools – those overseen by local authorities – were spending more than they were receiving, forcing them to dip into their reserves.

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3 Simple Lessons to Maximize Your Education and Achieve Your Dreams

Education is certainly an essential aspect of life, but many schools and their programs fail to maximize the potential of the students due to one simple error: They don’t combine classroom instruction with firsthand experience.

It's difficult for any graduate to succeed in a new environment without what I call "situational knowledge". The definition of situational knowledge is rather simple: Knowledge you’ve acquired not through merely listening, but the experience of doing. This knowledge can only be gained in two ways -- through your actual experience or from the guidance of a mentor who has gone through a similar situation. And today’s top-tier educational programs will ensure that their students are prepared with this understanding of how the real world operates outside of a classroom.

On a recent trip to Full Sail University [in Florida], I got to see firsthand how this particular institution is providing situational knowledge to their students. They recently launched the Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting, and it has changed the way I view education. Here are three powerful lessons I took from it.

1. Find a program with teachers and mentors who have situational knowledge.

Dan Patrick’s post-graduation struggles were something that countless new graduates also have to contend with. “I graduated from the University of Dayton," Patrick said, "then I thought, 'Well, where's my job?'” Dan found himself educated enough to attain a degree, but not enough to take on an uncharted path to his dream job of sports broadcasting. That's why Dan and the Full Sail team put together a program to empower the next generation of sportscasters with the "hands-on" tools they will need as they embark on careers in the industry.

There are no better instructors than those with decades of actual experience in their industry. And this is why Full Sail’s sportscasting program, led by program director Gus Ramsey, is so unique. Having spent more than 20 years as a producer for ESPN's flagship program, SportsCenter, there are few instructors more qualified to prepare students for life in front of (or behind) a camera. Like Dan, Gus has seen many new production assistants walk into the doors of ESPN’s headquarters with their “heads spinning”, unprepared for the real-life challenges they will face. He is driven to educate his students so that they do not have to endure the same hardship and struggle during the learning curve.

Related: 25 Lessons Business School Won't Ever Teach You

The best education pairs students with mentors who have invaluable experience to share; those who know what it takes to succeed in an organization or role, and can provide the right feedback to their students. Mentors can prepare their mentees for the tests they will face in the real world and give them the right tools to get the job done. Experienced mentors can show students exactly what it takes to succeed in a profession, and eliminate misconceptions about a given job.

Dan Patrick cites this as a key factor when educating the next generation of broadcasters: “Everybody thinks you turn on a microphone and you talk. That’s not the case. Everybody thinks you just sit in front of the camera and you talk. That’s not the case. As a teacher, you have to dispel those myths, so they understand this is what this job really is. This is what it takes to get from here to there.”

2. School should push you to be your best, not just push you out the door.

One of the most important aspects for any academic program is to have high, but realistic, expectations for students and push them to pursue their potential in whatever ventures they choose. These programs must produce job-ready graduates and provide constructive feedback so that graduates can achieve their goals without having to learn the hard way: experiencing failure after failure until they finally get it right.

The best feedback from instructors and mentors helps students understand the areas in which they need to improve in order to succeed, as well as guide them to make adjustments if they find that they fit certain roles better than others.

3. Hands-on experience with the latest tech and trends is essential.

Full Sail’s Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting also stood out to me because of the program’s focus on adaptation. Their month-to-month curriculum not only looks to instruct students on the current state of sportscasting but is flexible, allowing instructors to make adjustments based on new developments in the industry.

In an ever-evolving business environment, programs that adapt to changing technology and strategy will produce more job-ready graduates. A program’s curriculum must have a focus on preparing students with the tools of the trade that are currently being utilized, as well as the pioneering tools and techniques that are trending toward widespread use.

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Australia: Estimated total cost of a government, Catholic and independent education revealed

The average median cost of a government education over a 13-year period in metropolitan Australia is $68,727, the latest ASG Planning for Education Index has revealed.

Parents considering a Catholic education for their son or daughter in metropolitan Australia are expected to spend $127,027, while the average median cost of an independent education in Australia’s capital cities is a whopping $298,689.

ASG, the largest provider of education scholarship plans in Australia, found Brisbane was the most expensive national city for a government education, with the bill coming in at $75,601 — 10 per cent higher than the national average of $68,727.

Startlingly, school fees made up just a small fraction of the estimated total cost of a government education each year, with external tuition and devices both costing more.

The ASG research discovered Adelaide was the country’s most expensive city for a Catholic education, with the median total cost exceeding $131,000.

Whereas, Sydney was Australia’s most expensive city for an independent education, with parents expected to spend $461,999 over a 13-year period — 54.7 per cent above the national average of $276,338.

School fees were easily the most expensive component of an independent education in metropolitan Australia, costing parents approximately $14,116 per child per year.

Mother Sarah Charge, whose youngest daughter is about to start Year 9 at a Catholic school in Sydney, described the total cost of an education as “scary” when seen as a lump sum.

“The estimated total cost is a lot more than I thought it would be, however we’ve been fortunate to source second hand uniforms and texts books which helps keep costs down,” Ms Charge said.

“I’m also really surprised the estimated total cost of a Catholic education in Sydney is below the national average. It must be the only thing that is, especially when you compare it to accommodation and house prices.”

The ASG Planning for Education Index also showed the average median cost of a government education in regional Australia was $57,994.

Parents considering a Catholic education for their son or daughter in regional Australia are expected to spend $109,877, while the average median cost of an independent education in regional Australians $201,210.

The Index discovered regional New South Wales was Australia’s most expensive state for a government education ($73,808), regional Queensland the most expensive for a Catholic education ($113,211) and regional Victoria the most expensive state for an independent education ($248,543).

ASG CEO Ross Higgins said the cost of education had risen at more than double the rate of inflation over the past decade.

“Education costs, including tuition costs, uniforms, transport and devices are demanding a far greater share of the family budget than in the past,” Mr Higgins said.

“More than ever, the costs associated with education are placing more of a burden on Australian families, who are already challenged by the rising cost of living.

“With less discretionary money to spend, it’s going to be very hard to pay for education, which means parents who have saved will be in a better position in the long run.”

Mr Higgins encouraged parents to put in place a dedicated savings plan, so they can financially afford to meet their children’s educational goals and aspirations.

ASG has also developed a Cost Calculator tool which may assist looking at this data as it applies to your circumstances.

The Index was based on data sourced from a survey of 2300 ASG members on ancillary costs and public information on school fees from the Good Schools Guide and My School website.

The data was then consolidated and analysed by Monash University.

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