ACADEMIES

18 October 2007

Commenting on the Public Accounts Committee Report ‘The Academies Programme’ Steve Sinnott General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union said:

“The Public Accounts Committee has hardly given a glowing endorsement to the Academies programme.

“The extra funding that Academies enjoy provides a boost that is denied other schools.
Yet, despite this advantage the Committee raises big questions about their future sustainability and the availability of good sponsors.

“As the Public Accounts Committee says Academies are an expensive way of tackling low attainment and they face costly overruns.

“It is high time that they are brought back into the local authority family of schools.
They should share in the benefits of co-operation enjoyed by maintained schools and be as accountable.

“Of course business has a stake in the success of schools but that should be as part of a genuine partnership. There needs to be a level playing field in the education of our youngsters with the funding and expertise shared amongst all our schools”.