Education Education Education

This afternoon we had the Adrian Vinson show otherwise known as cabinet. This afternoon Cllr Milton put up for consultation what was to happen to the two new schools in the East and West of the city. Then ratified what was going to happen.

From this many questions remain unanswered.

Why did the cabinet member not wish to submit a bid? Would the concept of the LEA being rejected by an outside body to run the new schools, result in the other schools questioning the ability of the LEA to run them?

What is the cabinet member going to base her selection on? There are the government guidelines to follow on selection but how will cllr Milton choose between a Trust school, a Faith school and an Academy?

Once Cllr Milton has made her decision will she allow other schools in the city to go down this route? Thus if a school becomes a trust school will the neighbouring schools be allowed to seek Trust school status?

What will happen to staff and children? Probably the most important, if a selection process was to start in schools will staff wish to stay there. In an academy staff will no longer be employed by the LEA thus what happens to the staff?

This is one of the most serious issues facing the city and the only member of the Labour party to attend was Richard Harris who stood down as a councillor last year. Why did no Labour councillors attend? Do they not take this matter serious?