Commenting on the news today (Friday) that the government has abandoned its plans to force all maintained schools still linked to local authorities to become academies, UNISON head of education Jon Richards said:
“It’s reassuring that ministers have listened to the many arguments put to them and decided against pursing their ill-thought-out plans to force all maintained schools in England to become academies.
“The government claims academy status means greater autonomy for individual school heads, but the reality for head teachers in multi-academy chains is proving very different.
“Yesterday’s shock announcement by the Academies Transformation Trust of redundancies across its schools in the Midlands and the East of England left its 21 heads reeling.
“Government cuts to education spending are having a huge impact on schools everywhere, but too many academies are making bigger cuts than necessary.
“Academies may be less able to weather the storm than maintained schools, and that will be of huge concern to the many parents whose children attend them.”
UNISON media contacts:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Alan Weaver T: 020 7121 5555 M: 07939 143310 E: a.weaver@unison.co.uk
