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    Teachers mount academy protest

    Bradford teachers are to mount a campaign against the Government's flagship academy programme.

    Delegates in the NASUWT union voted at their annual conference in Birmingham to condemn proposals to expand the number of these schools.

    The union claims some councils are using school reorganisations as a Trojan horse' to bring in academies.

    Pam Milner, Bradford secretary, said: "We are against and condemn the Government's academy schools programme because it undermines nationally-agreed terms for teachers.

    "They reduce local accountability, put public assets into private ownership and also allow private sponsors to take charge of the curriculum.

    "Where is the control? How can you have Bradford Council in control of schools when you might only have three schools left to run?"

    Mrs Milner said she believed more academies could be on the way to Bradford as the Council would be swayed' by anyone who provided funding for new schools.

    She said: "I don't think the Council is being given the whole picture.

    "There is a lot of short-term thinking rather than an overview of how academies could affect Bradford's teachers."

    "Teachers who move to academies are very often not given the same terms they would be in local authority-run schools."

    Chris Cheetham, a history teacher at Rhodesway School in Allerton, Bradford, has campaigned against the school moving to academy status. He said he believed 100 per cent' that the Council was in favour of academies. "I think they are washing their hands of some schools," he said.

    A Department for Children, Schools and Families spokesman said: "When an academy project involves one or more schools closing or merging, Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations apply, and existing staff have the right to transfer on their existing terms and conditions of service. For new academies it is important that teachers are offered attractive pay and conditions."

    City academies were introduced in 2002 to allow state schools to get funding through sponsorship.

    Dixons Academy was the first in Bradford. It has since been joined by Bradford Academy which opened last September. Plans are also afoot to give Wyke Manor academy status.

    A Bradford Council spokesman said it considered academies to be one of a range of options it was using to promote educational improvements. It intended that each academy must play a "full and integrated part" in its schools' development programmes.

    "We see academies and their sponsors not as an opportunity to ditch responsibilities' but as a welcome addition to these highly developed partnerships focused on student success, participation and progression," said the spokesman.

    "Currently, we have two Academies, one of which is one of the most high performing schools in the country. Bradford Council is, demonstrably, not seeking to hand over responsibility for failing schools or seeking to mask poor results. We are seeking to provide vibrant educational opportunities that are responsive to local need."

    3:01am Friday 28th March 2008

    Related Links
    Academy proposal to be investigated
    Rhodesway board reject plans
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