ATL

ATL is appalled by the bizarre process to turn outstanding schools into academies

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said: "The process for turning outstanding schools into academies is totally bizarre and undemocratic.

"We are appalled that there is no requirement for the school governors to consult anyone - parents, staff or the local community - before becoming an academy.

"It cannot be right to allow a self-selecting group of a school's governing body to be handed control of a public asset.

"When the Coalition Government is cutting public spending right, left and centre how can it possibly find up to £75 million to bribe outstanding schools to become academies?"

Notes to editors

1. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) is an independent, registered trade union and professional association, representing approximately 160,000 teachers, headteachers, lecturers and support staff in maintained and independent nurseries, schools, sixth form, tertiary and further education colleges in the United Kingdom.

2. ATL exists to help members, as their careers develop, through first rate research, advice, information and legal advice.

3. ATL is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) and Education International (EI). ATL is not affiliated to any political party and seeks to work constructively with all the main political parties.