LIES - UNFIT SPONSORS - NO CONSULTATION

Meeting - 6.30 pm, Thursday 29th June, Phoenix Theatre, Blyth

Northumberland Council’s plans for Academy schools in Blyth and Ashington are under fire as a campaign is launched to stop them going ahead.

Campaigners accuse the Council of failing to consult parents and unions - misrepresenting the degree of support - for handing over schools to sponsors (the Duke of Northumberland, and the Emmanuel Foundation) who are not fit or acceptable to run them - and putting the long term future of neighbouring schools at risk.

The Government directly pays the building and running costs of Academies – the building costs are £25 million plus and the sponsor is expected to contribute £2 million. Northumberland Council claims it has not got the money to build new schools and Academies are the only way this can be achieved.

Vin Wynne, of the National Union of Teachers, accuses the Government of blackmailing authorities “New Labour is obsessed with Academies and to make sure it reaches its target of 200 Councils can’t access investment unless they agree to adopt them – it is pure blackmail.”

The Council and Emmanuel Foundation are accused of misrepresenting the degree of support for the Blyth Academy.

The governing body at Blyth Community College says “The Council and Emmanuel Foundation claim the governors and Head of Blyth Community College support the proposed Academy. This is a lie – we do not support it, have not been properly consulted and believe it will damage the College in the longer term.” Campaigners say the support was cited in a report to the Government seeking approval for the Academy to go ahead.

Sponsors have control over Academies as they appoint the governing body, employ staff and determine the ethos of the school. Those opposing the proposals claim the sponsors for the Northumberland Academies are not fit to run schools.

“What does the Duke of Northumberland know about education in Ashington or the needs of young people in the town?” asked Vin Wynne.

Controversy surrounds the sponsor of the proposed Blyth Academy – the Emmanuel Foundation headed by evangelical Christian Sir Peter Vardy. The Foundation is accused of pushing an aggressive religious agenda in its schools and imposing a strict regime.