14 July 2010
Norfolk’s schools are under threat, a public meeting in Norwich was warned last night [1]. Green Party Deputy Leader Adrian Ramsay and former Norwich North MP Ian Gibson were amongst the speakers at a public meeting where teachers and parents expressed concern about the Government’s plan for more academies and free schools.
The meeting was called by the Norfolk branch of the National Union of Teachers and marks the start of a local campaign to defend the principle of free state education and local community schools. On Monday (19th July) local campaigners and teachers will be amongst the campaigners taking part in a lobby of Westminster as MPs consider the Government’s proposals for schools.
Education Secretary Michael Gove recently revealed that 15 schools in Norfolk have expressed an interest in becoming academies [2].
Adrian Ramsay argued at the meeting that academies and so called “free” schools represent a threat to the principle of free state education. Councillor Ramsay commented:
“Private sponsors should not be able to buy influence over schools. Under academies, private sponsors can influence the running of the school, the terms and conditions of teachers, the curriculum and the name of the school.
“There is no evidence to suggest that academy status is likely to result in improved exams results – there have been mixed performances from academy schools around the country.
“Academies are run by managers who may have more interest in reflecting the private agendas of their funders than providing an inspiring and balanced education to their pupils.”
As well as being Deputy Leader of the Green Party and a Norwich City Councillor, Adrian is well known as a campaigner for free education. When he studied at UEA he clashed with Charles Clarke, the recently defeated Norwich South MP who was responsible for bring in student top up fees as Education Secretary.
The Green Party stands for properly funded state education, all the way from nursery level through to universities. He said:
“Education needs to be free from corporate influence. Rather than setting up new schools we should be investing in the schools we have already. I want every local school to be a good community school and I want teacher to be free to inspire their pupils, just as my teachers inspired me.
“We do need to find ways to involve teachers, parents and students in the running of schools, but free schools could take us in the wrong direction and result in more segregation in society. We need to protect the principle of community, comprehensive schools. Academy schools often lose their local community identity and free schools would be the same.”
Notes:
[1] The meeting was held in the City Hall Council Chamber on Tuesday 13th July.
[2] Reported in the EDP 26/06/2010: http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED25%20Jun%202010%2018%3A06%3A24%3A217.
