The Academies Programme

The academies programme offers Richmond upon Thames opportunities to improve school standards and buildings. In March 2008, the Council and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) announced that we had agreed preferred sponsors for three new academies in the borough.

This site will be updated regularly so that you can find out more about the programme, the timetables for public consultation and opening the academies. You will find answers to your questions, links to other websites and who to contact for more information.

What are academies?

Academies are publicly funded independent local schools. They are all-ability schools which aim to raise standards by innovative approaches to management, governance, teaching and the curriculum. The involvement of sponsors allows them to bring their skills and expertise to the Academy. Academies provide a teaching and learning environment which offers a broad and balanced curriculum, focusing on one or more subject specialisms.

The schools that may become academies and their preferred sponsors are:

• Hampton Community College - Kunskapsskolan
• Whitton School - Kunskapsskolan
• Shene School - To be decided

Who are the sponsors?

Kunskapsskolan

Kunskapsskolan runs 30 secondary schools in Sweden as part of the state sector. Its model of education emphasises personalised learning, with clear weekly and yearly goals set for each pupil and a stepped curriculum and flexible timetable that are designed to meet pupils' needs. It uses a mixture of one-to-one support, tutorials and lectures and will be adapting its approach to deliver the English National Curriculum. Kunskapsskolan is keen to work with local stakeholders to provide the best opportunities for pupils.

For Shene Academy

Edutrust were originally chosen as the preferred sponsor for the proposed academy at Shene, however from November 2008 to March 2009 the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) investigated claims, made by Edutrust's former Chief Executive, of financial mismangement on Edutrust's part.

The DCSF found “significant concerns over the governance” of the Edutrust Academies Charitable Trust (EACT), including non-compliance with financial management requirements, insufficient governance arrangements, failure to address conflicts of interest and poor record-keeping.

Although the DCSF feels that EACT have now addressed these shortcomings, the Council no longer believes that Edutrust commands the confidence of local people. As a result, the Council will, with the input of local people, be seeking new co-sponsors to take the Shene academy forward, with a view to it opening in September 2010. More details of the sponsor selection process will be posted here in due course.

More information

For more information please contact:

Matthew Paul,
Deputy Head of Commissioning, Delivery and Service Improvement

Children’s Services and Culture,
Regal House,
London Road,
Twickenham TW1 3QB

Email: m.paul@richmond.gov.uk
Phone: 020 8891 7588

Sign up for regular email updates on the Academies Programme. Updates will start once one or more of the proposed academies enters the Feasibility stage.