Angela Rayner: No new academies or free schools under a Labour government
3 min read
A Labour government will halt the creation of new free schools and academies, the Shadow Education Secretary will pledge today.
Addressing the party’s conference in Liverpool, Angela Rayner will blast the current system as “simply not fit for purpose” and will commit to putting powers over admissions and the building of new schools fully back into the hands of councils.
Among the series of reforms is a plan to make it easier for failing so-called “zombie academies” to be moved back into local authority control, rather than being left waiting for another academy chain to take them on.
The party will also take steps to create a system which sees the "same rules centred on giving schools, parents and communities an active role in decision-making and meaningful power over the schools in their areas”.
It will also move to allow new co-operative schools where there is demand from parents and staff.
And the party will bring forward a ban on commercial arrangements between academy trusts and companies or individuals who are also sponsoring or involved in running the trust.
Elsewhere the party will draft rules to ensure multi-academy trust bosses are unable to pay themselves “fat cat salaries”.
Mr Rayner will say the overhaul of England’s education system is about tackling its “fragmentation and privatisation” under the Conservative government.
“The Tories have thrown money at an academy and free school programme that is not improving outcomes for pupils, even while individual schools have their budgets cut year after year,” she will say.
“We now routinely see the shocking sight of schools begging parents for financial support just to carry out day-to-day functions.
“Meanwhile, some executives at large academy chains are earning fat cat salaries from taxpayers’ money, and there are mounting scandals and evidence of financial mismanagement.
“For too long, parents and local communities have been shut out of decisions affecting schools in their area.
“The next Labour government will give power back to communities so that our schools are run by the people who know them best – parents, teachers and local communities.”
Ms Rayner will add that under the new rules “unaccountable” zombie academies, of which the party says there are now 124, will no longer be left in “limbo”.
“The Tories’ fragmentation and school system has created zombie schools – caught between academy chains who are under no obligation to take them on and a Government that simply washes its hands of the problem, refusing to step in and take responsibility,” she will add.
“Tens of thousands of children are educated in these schools, yet the Government has abandoned these children, just as it has abandoned any commitment to a school system that is accountable and works in the best interest of pupils, parents and teachers.
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