Press Release

Grave reservations about academies, says ATL

Commenting on the PwC Academies Evaluation 2nd Annual Report issued today, Dr Mary Bousted, General Secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) said:

"Members of ATL share the government's aim to raise standards in schools across the country. However, we have grave reservations about the government's determination to introduce further academies while their effectiveness remains unproven.

There is a fundamental debate to be had about who is in control of academies - who should determine the vision and education direction of these schools; who should control the pedagogy and who should determine the content of the curriculum.

ATL is concerned about the undue level of control handed to unelected, largely unvetted individuals or businesses. There is an astonishing lack of public accountability and a lack of openness across the academies programme despite the large amount of public funds going into each academy.

We have called on the DfES to re-evaluate the academies programme and address the very significant criticisms being voiced by the education community."

For further information please contact the ATL press office on 0207 782 1589.

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