As a father of three, the education of our children is something that I am passionate about. We need to ensure that schools are places to inspire our children to maximise their full potential so they can go out into the world and lead successful and happy lives. Of course every child is different, and every school community is different. One size does not fit all. That is why I believe that the system of freeing headteachers and leaders from outside control, allowing them to take decisions which will benefit their particular school community is an invaluable part of ensuring that a child’s education equips them with all they need.
Teachers and headteachers are on the ground day in day out, they are the experts, not distant politicians and I trust that our teachers will make and take decisions which will help our children blossom and achieve the best results possible.
Indeed, 2015 results show that primary sponsored academies open for two years have improved their results, on average, by 10 percentage points since opening, more than double the rate of improvement in local authority maintained schools over the same period. 2015 GCSE results show that secondary converter academies are performing 7.2 percentage points above the national average, with 64.3 per cent of pupils achieving five or more good GCSEs, including English and maths.
The Academies and free schools system is a system in which state-funded schools are delivering better results for all children through empowering great teachers and leaders with better leadership structures. I am proud to be a governor of Sandymoor free school, and each time I visit I am bowled over by the incredible nurturing and inspirational environment created by the teachers and the eager enthusiastic pupils. My three have all been educated in our local state school – the eldest has just gone to university, but the other two are still benefitting from all that it offers. The Academy system is not aimed at belittling the fabulous work which is achieved by dedicated teachers in schools throughout the country instead it seeks to empower teacher to the benefit of their students.
To my mind, all children no matter which school they attend should have the clear benefits of a system which prioritises responsiveness and accountability over an arbitrary requirement for all schools in a local area to be run by the same body, regardless of its effectiveness.
The next generation is so important, we must give them every opportunity possible, and I for one trust our teachers to be able to do that.
