LIB DEM LEADER SLAMS ACADEMY PLANS (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Kirklees Liberal Democrats <info@kirkleeslibdems.org.uk>

LIB DEM LEADER SLAMS ACADEMY PLANS

October 10, 2006 9:09 AM

Cllr Kath Pinnock has slammed Tory plans to establish two school academies in Kirklees.

Cllr Pinnock says: "The Tory decision to establish academies in the area without any discussion, particularly with parents and teachers, is disgraceful."

Cllr Pinnock says "Local people should have a say on whether this sort of school is set up in their area because academies are actually a very different proposition from your normal state school. Academies are dependent on funding from private sponsors who can then run the governing body and dictate the direction and ethos of the school. They also have greater independence in terms of what they teach and can have varying motives for getting involved. This marriage of private sector and education makes me very uncomfortable and I don't think this is the sort of decision that should have been made by half a dozen politicians without any real consultation with the people who will have to live with the consequences in the years to come".

Cllr Pinnock says: "There are actually huge doubts over the value and effectiveness of the academies."

· Ofsted have raised concerns (1)

· Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman, who chairs the Education & Skills Select Committee, has equally raised doubts, suggesting that a proper evaluation of academies should have taken place before the scheme was expanded (3).

· The National Union of Teachers (NUT) is also running a massive campaign against academies saying that they are actually damaging to neighbouring schools and create a two tiered education system (2)

Cllr Pinnock says: "Academy schools could actually divide our communities. In Kirklees, I want every child to have access to the same high quality facilities and standards of teaching, not just a select few. Those living in one postcode should have access to the same as those living across the road in the next."

Cllr Pinnock says: "Building Schools for the Future money should allow Kirklees to build new state schools and raise the standards of facilities and teaching across the board. The government should not be allowed to withhold this money if a local authority decides that it doesn't want to have an academy. Local authorities should be able to make their own decisions about academies without the threat of losing out financially".