Schools shake-up

MANY readers will be unaware of proposals that will sweep away a combined total of 160 years of state education at primary schools in Bexhill. On September 1, King Offa and Sidley primary schools are set to have their buildings and assets transferred to a trust run by an American company, set up to make profits from establishing so-called academy schools in this country.

At a recent ‘consultation’ meeting, representatives from the Aurora Education Trust admitted that the schools would cease to be the responsibility of East Sussex County Council. The Department for Education (DfE) will fund the schools directly, using taxpayers’ money to pay a private company to run the two schools.

Forcing schools to become academies is less about standards and more about an ideological attack on a properly accountable and planned public education system.

The ‘consultation’ process is a sham and there has been little press coverage of these proposals. Local people need to be aware that these plans are being pushed forward with little regard to their long-term effects.

The financial agreement with the DfE has not even been signed off. A much more detailed analysis of the proposals is needed and a delay in the whole process is required so that local people have a real chance to debate the issues.

NEIL BATES

Millfield Rise

Bexhill-on-Sea