Inadequate Academies

By John Merrell

The recent Ofsted report for Leicester schools stated three were “inadequate”: two run by the local authority, the third an academy.

The two council schools are to become academies, a move unopposed by the Labour city council. The local Labour MP is Jon Ashworth, a member of Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet.

Seven Leicestershire schools were deemed inadequate: six are academies.

The Tory county council spokesperson pointedly did not mention academisation. Instead, he stated: “If a local authority school receives an Ofsted rating of ‘inadequate’ we work very closely with it to look at … ways it can be supported to improve”. This may upset the county’s MPs, who are all Tories, including Secretary of State for Education Nicky Morgan!

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC), which includes transport union RMT and the Socialist Party, opposes academy status. Without TUSC’s intervention, the upcoming council elections would resemble the Oxford (dark blues) versus Cambridge (light blues) boat race.