ATL

ATL says Academies Bill is irresponsible

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said: "These proposals to turn more schools into academies are just irresponsible. They have not been properly thought through and could end up making a mess of education provision through their unintended consequences.

"Cutting local authorities out of the equation will end any meaningful local planning to target funding to the children who need more help such as those with special needs.

"Schools are less likely to work collaboratively if they are doing their own thing and competing for resources and pupils.

"Local democracy will be damaged if parents, staff and local authorities are given no say in whether their schools are turned into academies.

"If academies are allowed to determine their own pay and conditions, this will create uncertainty for staff and could make it even harder for the most deprived schools in the toughest areas to recruit staff.

"When there is no proof that academies improve children's education, certainly no more than any other school with extra funding, and with several academies in special measures, it is particularly irresponsible to push more schools down this route."

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.