Liberal Democrats slam Academies Bid (Southampton Liberal Democrats)

Southampton Liberal Democrats <info@southampton-libdems.org.uk>

Liberal Democrats slam Academies Bid

June 12, 2007 6:00 PM

Cllr Ann Milton

"Our city schools should be run by Southampton people for Southampton" say Southampton's Lib Dem group of councillors. The Group supports the increasing number of school head teachers and governors who back the bid for the Southampton Educational Trust to run the two new secondary schools in the City.

"We believe our schools should be an integral part of our city," says Cllr Ann Milton, "not be independent schools run by private sponsors such as religious groups or businesses with no roots here. Southampton's children are the city's future and are the city's responsibility. This being so the only acceptable bid to run the two new schools must be the Southampton Educational Trust, put together by the city's major employers, and the two universities. It is based on real understanding of the area and its needs, together with a commitment to shared values and aspirations for the City."

For those that don't know what Academies are :-

They get £23m public money for £2m private investment towards a brand new building at the start. The state then funds running costs in perpetuity.
They don't have to stick to national curriculum.
They have more flexibility with staff pay and conditions.
The Sponsor appoints governing body, only one parent governor required and so reduced parents influence.
They answer directly to the Secretary of State, they do not fall under the authority of the Local Education Authority and so local people get no say in their running.
An Academy is supposed to replace a failing school, as a last resort.
There were 46 academies operating as of September 2006. The government plans 400 by 2010.

As the Liberal Democrat party we have concerns about:

Undue influence of sponsors with particular axe to grind - Vardy Academies and fears about creationism
Negative Impact on neighbouring schools - Academies offering better pay to attract best staff and cherry picking the better performing pupils.
It is not the "Academy" that brings any success, but the injection of cash and the freedom to create own curriculum. Sponsors aren't handing over the cash they've pledged.
Removing schools from LEA control makes collaboration - something we value - between schools (and colleges) harder, if not impossible, to manage.
Tony Blair announced a doubling of target to 400 Academies - before there is enough data to know if they work.
An Academy is supposed to replace a failing school but non-failing schools who can't get a place on an early cycle of the Building Schools for the Future programme are opting to be Academies because it's the only way they can get their hands on cash for new buildings
Some sponsors aren't actually handing over the cash they pledge and the government is even offering some sponsors "buy two get one free offers" where they effectively get control of a school for nothing!

Commenting on the academies issue in general Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary Sarah Teather MP said :-

"Brand new facilities and a good headteacher can turn a school around. Why can't everybody's local school get these opportunities, not just those who are prepared to hand over control of their governing bodies to a rich sponsor? There are real questions that need to be answered about how this scheme is being managed, how money is spent and how it is being raised."