Long Eaton Feature

 A chance to become one of Derbyshire’s first Academies seemed a big ask for Long Eaton School when the conversion was first proposed, but a few months on Headmaster Neil Calvert is extremely proud of what he has achieved and is still looking for ways they can improve further.

Neil Calvert has strived to improve the school since becoming headmaster in early 2008. In 2006 the school moved to a new site costing 15 million pounds as part of a Private Finance Initiative, which has only helped to improve the school's standards. In 2006 and 2009, Ofsted judged the school as “outstanding” due to its above average GCSE scores and standard of teaching, especially in the English department. Mr Calvert explained, “I am proud of the high Ofsted scores we achieved and Academy status will not change what we stand for, it will enable us to deliver more effective education to our students.”

Academy status means that a school will be funded directly from central Government and is independent of local Government control. To become legible, they must meet National Curriculum core subject requirements subject to an Ofsted exam.

Back when the proposition was made in October 2010, many schools seemed to be unsure of what benefits Academy status would bring for the students and the staff. A few miles down the road at Sinfin Community School, staff have decided to strike because they feel a move to Academy status could threaten their current jobs. Students have missed vital lesson time in the lead up to exams because on the striking action, however Long Eaton Headmaster Neil Calvert felt the move to Academy status would always be beneficial. “We obviously felt secure with the move to Academy status or we wouldn't have gone through with it, the feedback from parents to the board of Governors was always positive and the staff were kept informed during the whole process so we didn't have a similar situation happening here that happened at Sinfin.”

After being asked his thoughts on what the main benefit will be to Long Eaton School becoming an academy, Mr Calvert said, “Our new Academy status will enable us to develop a better curriculum for our students, one that meets their needs as the status allows us greater freedom than what we had before.” Mr Calvert's views appeared strong and he was sure that Academy status would bring benefits to Long Eaton School in the long run, although at recent Derbyshire Council meetings the difference  Academy status makes has been questioned. Councillor Bayliss has questioned what benefits Academies bring, stating “it just takes more schools out of local Council control, with there being no noticeable improvements in grades from the schools that have been Academies for a long period of time. I see no point in more schools being handed over to Government intervention as it can only be seen as wasting money.” Many opposed Councillor Bayliss' views, but there were some in support of what he said. Recent results do show Academies producing strong exam grades, when a few years ago they were not. It appears time is needed for Academies to start performing at a high level.

There is no shortage of criticism for Academies, but Education Secretary Michael Grove is still fully behind them, saying that pressing for more Academies will allow schools more freedom. The amount of Academies created under Labour was around 200, under the new Conservative regime they are aiming to reach almost double that amount by the end of 2011. Despite criticisms Academies continue to get results that are well above average, with 71% of students at Academies hitting the average five A*-C grades , when compared to 2006 in which only 26% of students at an Academy were reaching the student average. Back in 2006 was when the Academy moves put the Labour regime under scrutiny, as the move damaged exam results instead of improving them. But recent improvements in exam results under the Tory Government seem to gradually be bringing people round.

Back in October when the proposition for Long Eaton to become an Academy was put into place, Headmaster Neil Calvert said he tried to ensure that the academy move would be beneficial in every way to the school and put his case to the Board of Governors. After pushing the school to improve standards his influence and know how ensured Long Eaton School achieved the “outstanding” Ofsted grade that enabled them to become legible for Academy status. Neil said “ Schools should always be about the students, as headteacher I want them to achieve the very best grades they can and any help we can provide we will. I have recently joined Derby University's Governing Council in order to extend my knowledge of what students need so that they can achieve all the way from GCSE to the end of their University careers. Many sixth formers we have at Long Eaton School are not put off by University, they just want to know what experience they are getting as consumers and how it will help them in later life. I will look to pass on the knowledge to our sixth formers looking to progress.” Speaking of what else being on the University's Governing Council would do to help Long Eaton School, Neil said “ it helps bring vital links for the school, I have strong links with Derbyshire and I feel it is important to help the University as a local organisation, which I believe already has a strong reputation across the country. I want to push on after achieving Academy status, not rest on it.” Neil also said that he believes the Governing Council has a lot of power and influence, which he hopes can benefit his own institution.

Long Eaton is Neil Calvert's second head teaching post. After starting as a teacher at George Spencer School he spent ten years there before he moved to King Edward VI High School in Staffordshire as Deputy Head. After spending four years there he moved back to the East Midlands, taking his current post as Long Eaton Headmaster. After being asked why teaching attracted him, Neil said, “I just want to make a difference and education seemed a way of doing that. I have always taken pride in raising people's aspirations and teaching seemed an ideal career choice. I was born and raised in Staffordshire so I enjoyed being Deputy Head at the local school there, also with my family being from Derbyshire it was nice to come to one of the schools here as Headmaster for personal reasons as well as a career choice.”

Academy status has also delighted the Board of Governors, including Chair Tim Gallimore who said, “This is an important step for Long Eaton School, Academy status will allow us to continue to give a good standard of education to the students. Offering a balanced education we believe is a strength of ours and we'd like to continue ensuring our students achieve the very best grade in all the core subjects that open doors to the pupils future. But most importantly, it increases the schools responsibility in providing all students in our community an equal opportunity to achieve as well as they can. This is what we have always stood for.” Neil Calvert said that he worked closely with the Governors to make sure the move was right for Long Eaton School.

One would hope the misconception that Academies are bad is put to rest as more schools make the move and benefit from it. As the Government aim to have around 400 schools as Academies by the end of 2011 the whole country could see benefits first hand as their children take their first steps on to the secondary school ladder.

And what of the future? Neil said, “After getting Long Eaton School to Academy status, all we can do is push on and make Long Eaton School the very best it can be. Continuing to get our students achieving the 5 A*-C's and helping students pass their A levels remain our highest priorities, as of course the school is all about the students, without them we wouldn't be where we are now.”