Union wages war on new academies

A TEACHING union is mounting a “vigorous” campaign to oppose plans to create more academies in Oldham.

Blue Coat School has already applied to become one of the new wave of academies unveiled by Education Secretary Michael Gove in May.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) says governors at Saddleworth School will meet this week to discuss whether to follow suit.

But Tony Harrison, branch secretary of Oldham NUT, warned that parents, staff and the local community were not being told what they would lose.

He said that the rights of parents over areas such as admissions and special educational needs would be restricted, and that academies created more social segregation.

“If either of these schools were to move from being democratically accountable to becoming academies it would be another nail in the coffin for democracy in Oldham,” said Mr Harrison who is calling for proper consultation.

“Academies are a form of privatisation. They are independent schools within the state sector. They are not maintained by the local authority.

“The governors set up a private company which creates a private trust to run the school.

“Parents’ influence on the governing body is minimised.

“The trust then controls all aspects of the school including admissions, curriculum and length of the school day and there is little that parents can do about this.

“Once a school becomes an academy it is outside of local democratic control forever. It does not have to listen to parents or the public.

“Supporters of academies say they will get a little bit more money. Out of any additional money, Blue Coat and Saddleworth Schools would have to pay for special needs and other services which are currently paid for by Oldham Council.”

Oldham has three academies which opened this month: Waterhead Academy, The Oasis Academy and Oldham Academy North.

Mr Harrison added: “While we regret the opening of these three academies they, at least, gained financially from doing so.

“They received funds to replace crumbling buildings. If Blue Coat School or Saddleworth School became academies they would not receive this funding.”