Academies failing to hit target — opponents

CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans for three academies in Oldham say GCSE league tables show that pupils do better at community schools.

Some 41 of the government’s flagship academies — one in three — failed to reach the benchmark of at least 30 per cent of pupils obtaining five A* to C grades, including English and maths.

And 32 of the 122 academies reporting results from 2009 were among the country’s worst 2,000 schools.

This compares with a total of 247 schools that fall below the target, around one in 12. Another 54 schools also failed to make the grade, but have since closed, according to the latest figures.

Ministers want every school to hit 30 per cent by 2011.

There are currently 200 academies which are run by sponsors.

Oldham is replacing five schools — including three that fell short of the target last year — with three academies, opening in September, in a £266 million secondary education overhaul.

Stuart Paulley, from Oldham Campaign Against Academies, said: “Pupils in council-run schools are more likely to achieve the benchmark compared with pupils in academies.

“We do not believe that parents who send their children to the academies planned for September will be happy with the idea that their chances of GCSE success are significantly less than children in remaining community schools.

“The figures show yet again that Oldham Campaign Against Academies’ stance is in the best interests of pupils.

“It really is crucial that, even at this late stage, Oldham drops the plan to introduce academies.

“Failure to do so will put thousands of children’s future in jeopardy.”

“Last year the Government ignored the school which was the most improved in the country, presumably because it was a community school.

“Instead they focused on lavishing praise on Bristol Brunel Academy

“Bristol Brunel Academy’s results have dropped by 10 per cent.

“On the other hand, 34 community schools show either better or the same improvement as the two top academies, despite not getting extra money.”