Time to take stock of academies, says TUC

With employers demanding skilled recruits, the standard emerging from schools and academies has never been more in focus. In a report – ‘A new direction' – 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. The report was launched in July 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. 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.”