Four academy principals talk about procurement and the time issues involved in taking over responsibility from their local authority, in this school management resource for primary and secondary schools.
Academies have to take responsibility for activities that most schools have provided for them by the local authority. There are cost saving benefits to the competitive process but it is time consuming.
The principals enjoy the freedom of being able to choose their providers and find it "less expensive than being part of a local education authority" but they also create extra work "because you do have to be outsourcing and looking for value for money and it's not as simple as just going to the local authority".
The four principals featured are Sir Michael Wilshaw from Mossbourne Academy, Venessa Willms from King Solomon Academy Primary, Steve Kenning from Harris City Academy and Sally Coates from Burlington Danes Academy.
Useful websites
Harris City Academy Crystal Palace
Website for the school featured in the video
Website for the school featured in the video
Website for the school featured in the video
Department for Education: Academies proposals
Information on how to apply to become an academy
Specialist Schools and Academies Trust
Website for the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT), an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation
Website for the school featured in the video
