Public School Autonomy: A Comparative View of Education in England, Holland and Sweden

Public School Autonomy: A Comparative View of Education

in England, Holland and Sweden.

Miguel Ángel Sancho. European Foundation Society and Educatione-mail: [email protected]

Fort- Lauderdale, Davie. Florida.3rd Annual International School Choice & Reform Academic Conference

A comparative study of certain public school models that have introduced a greater degree of autonomy in recent years. That aims: 1. To analyze how they have achieved such great

autonomy within public education systems.2. To determine which similarities and differences exist

within the countries that have progressed in its implementation.

3. To identify what level of evolution and acceptance they have had.

Objetives of the Study

Recent studies show that England´s public schools are some of the most autonomous (OECD, 2012).

England´s public school system combines independence of the school with public funding.

The English political system has always had both flexibility and strong civil society participation, which has given great weight to the importance of education.

England´s Public School Autonomy

The Labour Government under Tony Blair established academies in 2000 against strong opposition from the trade unions.

When the conservative liberal coalition came into power it gave schools greater autonomy and independence.

The Academies Act of 2010 expanded the academies and introduced the “Free School” program.

Abril 2011: 629 November 2013: 3,444

England´s Public School System

Citation from the UK Legislation´s The Importance of Education: The White Papers 2010

“The Academy status should be the norm for all state schools, with schools enjoying direct funding and full independence from central and local bureaucracy. We will ensure that all schools, whatever their status, are freed from unnecessary bureaucracy, and enjoy progressively greater autonomy, with their own funding, ethos and culture. We expect schools to use their increased autonomy to explore new ways of working together – but collaboration in the future will be driven by school leaders and teachers – not bureaucrats.”

Academies are schools that: Are independent from the Local Authority (L.A.) which had the leading role in determining the way in which the school operated in the past. Are publicly funded. Have the power to determine the make up of its staff and the remuneration of its staff members. Are able to select the curriculum, modifying it or specializing it. Are able to modify the academic calendar for its students. Manage their own budgets according to what best fits the needs of their students.

What is an academy?England´s Public School Autonomy

Free Schools are schools that: Have been enabled by the Academies Bill, a new form of British Public

Schools. Are established by parents, churches, charities, teachers, or other

independent volunteer groups. (Distinguishing free schools from academies).

Are independent from the Local Authority (L.A.) which has usually had the leading role in determining the way in which the school will operate, just like academies.

Can be similar to U.S. charter schools, where non-profit organizations can establish their own schools while receiving government funding.

What is a Free School?England´s Public School Autonomy

Levels of School Autonomy in England

Organisation of instruction: student admissions; student careers; instruction time; choice of textbooks; choice of software/learningware; grouping of students; additional support for students; teaching methods; day‑to-day student assessment.

Personnel management: hiring and dismissal of principals, teaching and non-teaching staff; duties and conditions of service of staff; salary scales of staff; influence over the careers of staff.

Planning and structures: opening or closure of schools; creation or abolition of a grade level; design of programmes of study; selection of programmes of study taught in a particular school; choice of subjects taught in a particular school; definition of course content; setting of qualifying examinations for a certificate or diploma; accreditation (examination content, marking and administration).

Resource management: allocation and use of resources for teaching staff, non-teaching staff, capital and operating expenditure, professional development of principals and teachers.

3rd Annual International School Choice & Reform Academic Conference


They might contribute to greater social exclusion. Most free schools exist within middleclass areas, creating a two-tier

system. Although prohibited, they can be selective with admissions, which

can lead to an increase in social inequalities. The risk of hiring unqualified teachers and staff members -Lack of

supervision. However, 75% of the 24 first free schools were rated “good or

outstanding” by the Ofsted. The majority of parents support free schools and their ability to

choose .

Critiques of Free Schools and Academies

We have observed a great increase in the autonomy of schools in England in the form of Academies and Free Schools.

With greater responsibility for meeting national objectives there is also an increase in societal involvement and participation.

More flexibility in their organization leads to more responsibility in their societies and communities.

The public and private profiles are not clearly distinguishable. The hierarchy and structures are unclear. It is often difficult to transfer education models to different educational environments.

Conclusions

The Netherlands are often shown in international reports to have the greatest degree of autonomy in its schools (OCDE, 2012).

Schools supported by public funds: State Schools: 1/3 Non-State Schools: 2/3

Municipality Public Education Institutions Non-State Schools Positive neutrality of the public school: They pay

attention to the religion, philosophies, and beliefs most represented in the society.

Parents have the right to organize philosophy and religion lessons to be presented by the teachers. These courses are financed by the state.

Netherland´s School System

It is the responsibility of the state: To design the content of the fundamental curriculums and to

determine the amount of time spent in the school. To determine the educational objectives to have been met by the

end of basic education and the first three years of the secondary education.

To establish an assessment of every school and have every student to complete an assessment at the end of their basic education and a national assessment at the end of their secondary education.

The schools have a limited capacity for time and educational resources to incorporate their own themes and specific projects into the curriculum.

The Netherland´s Pedagogical Autonomy

Levels of Netherland´s School Autonomy

Source: OECD, 2012. (Elaboración propia)

Parents have the right to select which school their child will attend. (If parents are unable to find a suitable school within the area where they live, they are able to apply for transportation funding from the council).

The ability to choose is facilitated by the government through its annual publication of the “Map of Quality.”

Schools are required to publish detailed information about there educational projects and plans.

The interests of parents are also represented on school boards.

School Choice

The Dutch Educational System: Is more decentralized and has given more autonomy to its

schools, has reduced restrictions on the national curriculum, and has made teaching centers more autonomous.

Strengthened the ability for schools to determine their own management and implement their own innovative projects.

has given the school the power to decrease bureaucracy and regulations, for example ongoing negotiations between the government and representative organizations. These actions have led to Dutch schools themselves having the greatest power in enterprising and in decision making (Frans J. Vijlder, 2000).

Characteristics of The Netherland´s School System

More attention must be paid to the quality of each school, making the schools more result-oriented.

The school directors and managers must be held responsible for meeting these results.

The Dutch Ministry of Education wants to establish a personalized curriculum for every student.

The schools are free to appropriate the government funds they receive in the manner they see as best suitable for their needs.

Greater freedom and flexibility greater accountability and involvement.

Dutch Government´s Approach

To give greater flexibility and autonomy to the schools has allowed them to adapt programs to their needs and specific environment.

Holding the team of directors responsible for achieving the educational objectives increases social participation.

Greater School Autonomy Has Improved Schools Performance Internationally.

In 1990 only 0.9% of Swedish students attended independent schools.

In the 1992 Sweden passed in the Law of Reform of Independent Schools, with the objective of giving parents the right to choose between public or private schools.

Since 1992 Sweden has experienced a notable increase in independent schools.

Today in Sweden, 20% of children attending preschool go to independent preschools and 13% of pupils in compulsory schools go to independent schools. 25% of upper secondary school pupil attends an independent school.

Sweden

The independent schools are financed with public funding, based on the amount per student (voucher) equivalent which is assigned to their own public schools.

The school can also receive extra funding depending upon the needs of the students.

In turn the independent schools cannot charge the students money to attend.

Sweden´s Public School Autonomy

Two phases: Firstly they must obtain permission in order to

initiate the activities as an authorized school. Secondly the Swedish Schools Inspectorate grants

schools the right to obtain funds from the per pupil voucher system. They must follow the national curriculum and they are

evaluated by established national exams. Within this general framework, independent schools have

the freedom to organize their own programs and schedules.

Sweden´s Independent School Authorization

There are different authorization requirements and existing mechanisms of control.

There is the possibility to review the authorization.

Therefore in practice the possibility to promote private schools is more limited and the control of the school is carried out by the Swedish Schools Inspectorate and local authority.

Levels of Control

Organization and instruction: The schooling criteria is set at a general national level, as well as more

specific local level. The same is true to the calendar and the hours designated for teaching

different fundamental materials: There is a set general national level, then the municipalities and then the schools are able to adapt the content of the materials, the organization, and the methods of work.

Decision-making of School Personal: The contracting of directors is based open the established national

requirements. The contracting and firing of teachers depends upon the established

local authority and is in accordance with the trade unions.

Public School Autonomy

Local Authority is able to: Decide upon the creation or closing of public schools. Determine whether the selected studies are in accordance to the

national objectives. The School is able to:

General school rules and policies. The staff and teachers that make up the school.

The funding comes primarily from the municipalities and these in turn receive transfer funds from the central government and local taxes.

The decision to aid the professional development is made by both the local and central government.

Public School Autonomy

Levels of Autonomy

The autonomy is limited and gives more autonomy within the schools in the area of teaching style and less so in the areas of staff and curriculums.

For that reason there is a field of evolution in which the progressive weight of independent schools financed with public funds and their greater autonomy of staff members and curriculum allow them to exercise their influence in the public sphere.

Evaluation of Sweden´s Public School Autonomy

The education centers are influenced by “competition” with this type of school that normally has given better results, which are stimulated in order to both better the organization and make teaching more innovative, and create active societal participants

The Flexibility that has been introduced into the system has allowed public schools to be turned into independant schools.

These independent schools, in turn, have been able to specialize as los long as that they are still meeting the national objectives.

Pros

Photo by Liz MacKean of BBC News

Public Opinion: The Swedish people generally approve of the

new system. About 10% of all students of compulsory school age now attend the new schools, and in the upper secondary level it is about 20%.

Pros

The school choice reform has contributed to increased performance differences between schools, however this has led to decreased equity as well.

The school market is now considered to be an issue: Although parents now have the increased possibility to decide which

school is best for their child, only students whose parents making active decisions will benefit.

What happens to the students whose parents do not take an active role in their schooling?

Weakened preconditions necessary to provide each student with an equal education.

The Dilema

The school system has undergone significant changes since the introduction of the school choice reform, but its consequences have not been analyzed as a whole.

The Agency believes that the government ought to analyze how the school choice system can be reconciled with increased equity, so that all schools develop into good schools (Agency 2013 report).

Conclusions

Overall Levels of Autonomy in Netherlands, England, and Sweden

Source: OECD. Table D6. (www.oecd.org/edu/eag2012).

• The Netherlands has the greatest level of school autonomy, followed by England.

• England has no central or state involvement within its schools.

• Netherlands has no local government involvement in its school.

• Sweden represents a mixed involvement of the school, local, and central or state governments.

Level of Autonomy in Netherlands, England, and Sweden, by Organization

of Instruction • The Netherlands has

complete school autonomy in this domain.

• England and Sweden have equal levels of school autonomy and local government authority.

• The central and state government does not have authority in organization of instruction.


Organization of Instruction

D1.3 D1.3 D1.3 D1.3 D1.3 D1.3 D1.3

School choice School attended Pupils' school

careers Grouping of pupils Choice of textbooksChoice of softw are/

learningw are Instruction time Teaching methodsAssessment of

pupils' regular w ork Assistance to pupils(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)

OECD

England Local School School School School School School School School

England Within f ramew ork In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy

England set by central level

Netherlands School School School School School School School School School

Netherlands Other In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy Within framew ork In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy

Netherlands set by central level

Sw eden School School School School School Local School School School

Sw eden Within f ramew ork Within f ramew ork In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy Within framew ork In full autonomy In full autonomy Within framew ork

Sw eden set by central level set by central level set by central level set by central level

United States Local School School Local Local Local School School School

United States After consultation In full autonomy Within framew ork Within f ramew ork Within framew ork Within framew ork After consultation In full autonomy After consultation

United States w ith school level set by state level set by state level set by state level set by state level w ith local level w ith local level

Yes w ith certain conditions

Not

es

Source: OECD. See Annex 3 for notes (www.oecd.org/edu/eag2012 ).Please refer to the Reader's Guide for information concerning the symbols replacing missing data.




Table D6.7. Level of government at which different types of decisions about organization of instruction are taken in public lower secondary education (2011)


Level of Autonomy in Netherlands, England, and Sweden, by Personnel Management

Chart D6.3. Percentage of decisions taken at each level of government in public lower secondary education, by domain (2011) • Both the Netherlands

and England have complete school autonomy in determining the school´s personnel management.

• Sweden´s schools have nearly 60% autonomy in determining school´s personnel management. The rest of the authority in personnel management is allocated to the local government.

Personal Management

Hiring Dismissal DutiesConditions of

serviceFixing of salary

levelsInfluence over the

career Hiring Dismissal DutiesConditions of



career Hiring Dismissal DutiesConditions of



career(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18)

OECD

England School School School School School School School School School School School School School School School School School School

England After consultation After consultation In full autonomy In full autonomy Within framew ork In full autonomy In full autonomy After consultation In full autonomy In full autonomy Within framew ork In full autonomy In full autonomy After consultation In full autonomy In full autonomy Within framew ork In full autonomy

England w ith local level w ith local level set by central level w ith local level set by central level w ith local level set by local level

Netherlands School School School School School School School School School School School School School School School School School School

Netherlands Within framew ork Within framew ork In full autonomy In full autonomy Other In full autonomy Within framew ork In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy Other In full autonomy In full autonomy Within framew ork In full autonomy In full autonomy Other In full autonomy

Netherlands set by central level set by central level set by central level set by central level

Sw eden Local Local Local Local Local Local School Local School School School School School Local School School School School

Sw eden In full autonomy In full autonomy Within framew ork In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy Within framew ork In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy

Sw eden set by central level set by central level

United States Local Local Local Local State Local School School School School State School Local Local Local Local State School

United States In full autonomy In full autonomy Within framew ork In full autonomy After consultation In full autonomy Within framew ork Within framew ork After consultation After consultation After consultation After consultation In full autonomy In full autonomy After consultation After consultation After consultation After consultation

United States set by state level w ith local level set by local level set by local level w ith local level w ith local level w ith local level w ith local level w ith school level w ith school level w ith local level w ith local level

Principals Teachers Non-teaching staf f

Not

es

Table D6.7. Level of government at which different types of decisions about organization of instruction are taken in public lower secondary education, by personnel management (2011)

Level of Autonomy in Netherlands, England, and Sweden, by Planning and Structure

Chart D6.3. Percentage of decisions taken at each level of government in public lower secondary education, by domain (2011) • England´s schools

hold the greatest autonomy in determining the planning and structure of the school at 60%.

• The Netherland´s schools have nearly 45% autonomy in planning in structures. It´s central government has the majority of authority in this area.

• Sweden´s schools do not have authority in this domain, giving most authority to the central government and some to the local.

Planning and Structure

Creation or closure of school

Creation or abolition of a grade level

Designing programmes of study

Selection of programmes of study offered in a

particular school

Selection of subjects taught in a particular

schoolDef inition of course

content

Setting of qualifying examinations for a

certif icate or diploma Credentialing(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

OECD

England Local Local School School School School a a

England In full autonomy After consultation Within framew ork Within f ramew ork Within f ramew ork Within framew ork

England w ith central level set by central level set by central level set by central level set by central level

Netherlands Central Central School School School School Central Central

Netherlands In full autonomy In full autonomy Within framew ork Within f ramew ork Within f ramew ork Within framew ork In full autonomy In full autonomy

Netherlands set by central level set by central level set by central level set by central level

Sw eden Local Central Central Local Central Central a a

Sw eden In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy

Sw eden

United States Local a State State State State a a

United States Within f ramew ork In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy After consultation

United States set by state level w ith local level

Not

es

Level of Autonomy in Netherlands, England, and Sweden, by Resource Management

Chart D6.3. Percentage of decisions taken at each level of government in public lower secondary education, by domain (2011) • The Netherlands

gives full autonomy to its schools in this domain.

• England gives the majority of its authority to the school in determining resource management, and the remaining to the local government.

• Sweden gives the majority of the authority to the local government and the remaining to the schools.


Resource Management

Teaching staf f Non-teaching staf f Capital expenditure Operating expenditure

For principal professional development

For teacher professional development Staff Capital expenditure Operating expenditure

For principal professional development

For teacher professional development

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11)

OECD

England Local Local Local Local School School School School School School School

England In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy

England

Netherlands School School School School School School School School School School School

Netherlands Within framew ork In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy

Netherlands set by central level

Sw eden Local Local Local Local Local School School Local School Local School

Sw eden In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy In full autonomy Within framew ork In full autonomy

Sw eden set by central level

United States Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local

United States After consultation After consultation In full autonomy In full autonomy After consultation After consultation After consultation After consultation After consultation After consultation After consultation

United States w ith school level w ith school level w ith state level w ith school level w ith school level w ith school level w ith school level w ith state level w ith school level

Allocation of resources to the school Use of resources in the school

Not

es

Greater school autonomy has improved schools internationally To give greater flexibility and autonomy to the schools so that

they adapt their programs to their needs and specific environment.

To hold the team of directors responsible for achieving the educational objectives.

The educational standards should follow the reference by the their own governments, as well as international organizations (OCDE, EU).

Both the OECD and the EU are setting a trend to value greater autonomy in schools relating it to the quality, provided that it is accompanied by accountability under reference standards.

Right balance between choice and equity.

Conclusion


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Parents back academies says blair. (2005, September 12). BBC News. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk /2/hi/uk_news/education/4236354.stm

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD], (2012). Education at a Glance 2012: Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org710.1787/eag-2012-en

UK. Department for Education. (2013). What is an academy? Retrieved from http://www.educatio n.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/b00205692/whatisan academy

Glenn, Ch. De Groof, J. (2002), Finding the right balance: Freedom, Autonomy and Accountability in Education, Utrecht, Lemma, 600 pp

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Documents

Public School Autonomy: A Comparative View of Education in England, Holland and Sweden