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Preston Labour Group to oppose any further academy schools in the city

Posted on - 19th December, 2019 - 7:00am | Author - | Posted in - Ashton-on-Ribble, Politics, Preston News, Schools
Preston City Council's Labour cabinet
Preston City Council’s Labour cabinet

Preston City Council’s Labour Group will oppose any further moves to turn the city’s schools into academies.

The councillors claim there is little evidence that academy status offers pupils a better standard of education than local authority schools.

The announcement comes after recent proposals to turn Ashton Community Science College into an academy with the Morecambe Bay Trust. The school underwent a six-week consultation, which closed on Friday 13 December.

Read more: Ashton Community Science College consults over converting to an academy

A spokesperson for Preston Labour Group said: “Academies haven’t improved educational standards for underachievers as they set out to do.

“Permanent exclusion rates are nearly double the rate in academies. It also removes local, democratic control away from communities.

“We fear it will be children from lower income families who disproportionately are at greater threat from exclusion and teaching staff’s terms and conditions may suffer detriment as a result of any transfer.

“In the long term this won’t deliver benefits needed for children and local communities.”

Ashton Community Science College Pic: Google
Ashton Community Science College has recently consulted about becoming an academy Pic: Google

The Group will submit a notice of motion to January’s Full Council opposing further academisation.

Speaking at the beginning of the ASCS consultation, headteacher Miss Asquith said: “The Governing Body considers that being part of an academy trust is the best option for safeguarding our school from an ever changing political landscape and ensuring continuing improvement.”

Read more: Pupil power sees Fulwood school join the war against plastic

What do you think about academies? In your experience are they good or bad for Preston’s pupils? Let us know in the comments.

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