Conference Blog: Academies

Jenny Howells:

It was very interesting to listen to the debate about Academies. I now have a much better understanding about these schools. I am worries about the prospect of Academies for a number of reasons.

* higher rates of exclusion among pupils
* building land that taxpayers own being handed to businesses without knowledge of cost.
* covert selection
* sponsors being able to dictate the curriculum which will be taught.
* Teachers' pay and conditions being changed for the worse.
* lack of union recognition

It seems to me that we should be giving the millions set aside for academies to these co-called "failing" schools to properly resource and staff schools.