Press Release

Over-reliance on private funding risks jeopardising children's education - ATL

10 October 2008

Over-reliance on private finance risks jeopardising children’s education, warns the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).

ATL general secretary Dr Bousted said:  “Today we hear of the first academy sponsor – Amey – wanting to pull out.  In the current economic climate this may be the first of many.  

“But we have yet to hear who will pick up the pieces if any academy shuts at a moments notice, and particularly what would happen to the children involved.  Would the local authority then be expected to step in and provide an education?  Or would the school be sold on to the highest bidder?

“In addition, many academies are sponsored by charities, which have been similarly hit by the current economic crisis.  This highlights many of our fears about the entire academy programme.

“Currently the Government is heavily reliant on private funding for a whole range of education provision.  For diplomas to be successful they need employers to be willing to provide work placements.  And the whole Leitch skills agenda is based on employers paying to skill their workforce.  It was hard enough to get employers to pay for training when the economy was strong, so ATL can’t imagine it will be any better in a recession.”