Academies set for the thumbs down

Feb 20 2008 by Neil McKay, The Journal

PLANS for three Christian city academies – including one backed by Sir Peter Vardy – are likely to be thrown out by education bosses in County Durham.

Former chief schools inspector Maurice Smith has told Durham County Council that they should approve plans for academies in Consett, Stanley and Durham City put forward by three groups with a Christian ethos.

But the county’s head of children’s services David Williams will tell councillors tomorrow that he wants them instead to back plans by the Durham Excellence in Education Partnership (Deep), a group led by Durham University, to sponsor all three schools.

The recommendation has already sparked a row in the county, with former Cabinet Minister Hilary Armstrong saying children could miss out.

Deep is a consortium led by Durham University which also includes the county council, the seven schools that will shut to make up the three new academies and the North East Chamber of Commerce.

But Mr Smith says the partnership has no track record of running academies, while some of the headteachers involved are opposed to academies on principle. Mr Williams said: “The Government has expressed a desire for universities to become much more involved in secondary school education. The fact that Deep is keen to work with a wider range of partners means we could not only achieve the Government’s aim but also allow young people to benefit from a much wider range of expertise.”

But Ms Armstrong, whose North West Durham constituency includes Consett, said: “My concerns are solely for what is best for the children of Consett, and I fear that a marvellous opportunity may be lost.

“The Emmanuel Schools Foundation has a proven track record of running excellent schools. Children of some of my constituents attend the one at Lobley Hill in Gateshead.

“It is not a ‘faith’ school and I would not like to see an opportunity lost to the children of Consett because of what may possibly be misconceived prejudices.”

The county has received applications to run an academy in Consett from former Sunderland Football Club chairman Bob Murray and the Emmanuel Schools Foundation (ESF) – a Christian charity run by Wearside motor magnate Sir Peter Vardy. Another Christian charity, the United Learning Trust, wants to sponsor an academy in Stanley, while the Church of England’s Durham Diocese, in partnership with New College, Durham, wants to run the school in Durham. In a joint statement, Mr Murray and Sir Peter said: “We are disappointed that the cabinet report goes against the recommendations in the Maurice Smith report, which is an independent and comprehensive assessment of the sponsor applicants and how they could meet the educational needs of Consett.

“In recommending our proposal, Mr Smith commented on our ‘impeccable educational credentials in the context of academies and serving the educational needs for pupils in these age ranges’ and on our experience in planning, governing and leading academies.”

Mr Smith’s report – which has been backed by Schools Minister Andrew Adonis – says that Deep is “not yet prepared” for the role of running academies and has a “number of serious flaws which are unresolved”.

Under the proposals, secondary schools at Tanfield, Greencroft and Stanley would merge into one academy; those at Moorside and Blackfyne, Consett into a second; and Durham’s Gilesgate Sports College and Belmont Comprehensive into a third.