Labour scraps academy sponsorship fee
By politics.co.uk staff.
Ed Balls has announced plans to scrap the £2 million sponsorship fee it has required of businesses, charities or philanthropic individual that wants to set up an academy.
The change in policy arises amid fears the recession will lead to a decrease in the numbers of interested sponsors.
But Christine Blower of the National Union of Teachers called the announcement “a sign of desperation”.
“The requirement of interested companies simply having to prove they have the ‘necessary skills and leadership’ to run an Academy really does not stand up to scrutiny. One of the latest Academies to open is being sponsored by Aston Villa Football Club. I defy anyone to suggest that a football club can know more about the running of schools than a local education authority,” she said.
She described the academy system as “off the rails” and called for the government to end the program.
According to Mr Balls new sponsors will still have to earn an accreditation based on the “organisation’s educational track record, their skills and leadership and their commitment to working with local parents, teachers and pupils rather than ability to contribute financially”.
Labour have met their target of 200 new academies this year, with some 400 schools opening this term alone, 67 of which are academies.
