date: 13 July 2007

embargo: 00.01hrs Monday 16 July 2007

Time to take stock of academies, says TUC

The Government should take a step back and appoint an independent panel of experts to review its overall approach towards secondary schools and especially the impact that academies are having upon standards, says the TUC today (Monday).

In a report - 'A new direction' - published today, the TUC says that the change in government gives ministers the perfect opportunity to take stock and analyse the contribution that the new academy schools are making.

A review would give everyone in the education world a better understanding of the relative merits of academies compared to other national and local authority initiatives aimed to improve standards in secondary schools such as Excellence in Cities and the London Challenge, says the report.

The report also calls on ministers to look again at the most controversial aspects of the academy programme and build on recent welcome policy changes, such as giving local authorities a bigger role in the new schools.

'A new direction' is to be launched later today at Congress House by TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber and a number of the heads of TUC-affiliated education unions. It recommends:

• The establishment of an independent panel including academics and education policy experts to assess how each element of the Government's programme to improve the teaching of teenagers is faring, taking into account cost and overall effectiveness.
• Moves to make academies more accountable to parents, staff and local communities, ultimately returning them to the control of local education authorities.
• A review of the kinds of organisations that can sponsor academies, with greater encouragement for the involvement of local authorities and other public sector organisations.
• A new approach that gives unions the same recognition rights in academies as in mainstream schools, and which ensures pay and conditions are protected.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'This week's announcement from the new Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families shows that the Government is moving in the right direction on academies. By allowing local councils to have a greater say in the planning of local academy schools, the Government is removing some of the more controversial aspects of the programme.

'But unless a thorough review is carried out, academies will continue to grab the headlines, while denying recognition to other initiatives that quietly get on with the business of improving the educational prospects of many of the UK's disadvantaged teenagers.

'Unions want to be part of the drive to improve educational standards for all our young people, especially those in our most disadvantaged communities. We would welcome the opportunity to support a new direction which would build on the Government's achievements to date.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- A copy of 'A new direction: A review of the school academies programme' was written for the TUC by Martin Rogers and Frances Migniuolo at the Children's Services Network, part of the Local Government Information Unit. The report is available at http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/academies.pdf

- 'A new direction' is being launched at Congress House today at 3pm. Brendan Barber opens the event followed by Martin Rogers, the lead author, who will give an overview of the report's main findings. There will also be contributions from unions in the education sector including Mary Bousted, ATL's General Secretary, NUT General Secretary Steve Sinnott, Jerry Bartlett, Deputy General Secretary, NASUWT and Christina McAnea, Head of Education Services at UNISON. If you would like to attend the launch, please contact the TUC press office.

Contacts:

Media enquiries: Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337; M: 07900 910624;
E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07778 158175; E: media@tuc.org.uk

Press release (700 words) issued 16 Jul 2007