ED BALLS’ SPEECH TO THE LABOUR PARTY’S SPRING CONFERENCE – ACADEMIES AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES

29 February 2008

Commenting on Ed Balls' speech to the Spring Labour Party conference, Steve Sinnott, General Secretary for the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union said:

"I find it incomprehensible that the Government has decided to speed up the Academies programme.  Instead what is needed is a moratorium and a full scale independent review of Academies.

"Academies work against the Government's social agenda.  They disrupt school admission arrangements and undermine the principle that all children are entitled to a good local school.

"I welcome, however, Ed Balls' proposals for local authorities becoming responsible for helping schools improve and tackle the many challenges they face.  However, local authorities must not become mini-Ofsteds "terrorising" schools.  The best way local authorities can help schools is by working with them in partnership and providing expertise and advice."