Timms: Exciting period

The government has continued with plans to reform the education sector, announcing proposals for three new City Academies.

As Labour aims to meet its manifesto commitment to triple the number of specialist schools with the creation of at least 900 more, the three new City Academies were announced for Barnet, South Middlesbrough and Manchester.

Schools minister Stephen Timms said: "We are entering an exciting period for secondary education, a time when schools and local education authorities will be able to explore innovative and dynamic partnerships that will help drive up standards as never before."

The news schools will see investment of around £10 million, with sponsors expected to provide around 20 per cent of the total capital costs. They are designed to raise achievement levels in disadvantaged urban areas.

However, with 13 Academies given the go-ahead since March 2000, the plans are likely to ruffle feathers with teaching unions, which have argued that specialist schools create a two-tier system, advantaging some schools over others. Critics of the plans are likely to call for more action to improve teacher recruitment and morale.

The new City Academy based in Barnet will have specialise in business, enterprise and information technology. The South Middlesbrough academy will concentrate on business and finance and the new Manchester academy is to be sponsored by Manchester Science Park Ltd.