NUT: George Osborne’s plans to fund new free schools and academies
Commenting on George Osborne’s announcement ahead of the Autumn Statement that he will be releasing £1 billion to fund new academies and free schools, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:
“The Chancellor’s proposals to spend such a substantial amount of money on free schools and academies is a waste. If there is money to spare it should be going on the repair of the many dilapidated school buildings around the country and reducing class sizes. The first call on this cash should be to address the issue of primary place shortages by supporting the existing ‘middle tier’ – i.e. local authorities – to build schools where there is demonstrably urgent need.
“Yet again we see scarce and much needed funding being ploughed into projects of the Government’s choice rather than being spent wisely to maintain standards and provision in all schools.
“Michael Gove is still refusing to release the details of the impact assessments of the free schools he has approved and the effect these are having on education provision in the areas where they are opening. This is a vanity project which will cause serious problems in many areas for coherent educational provision for all children. It is a disaster waiting to unfold.”
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