Diane Abbott MP to speak at great education debate

The PM and Education Secretary Ed Balls talk to pupils at Woodberry Down Community Primary School in London following a speech on education Photo: Crown copyright

Diane Abbott MP and educational campaigner Fiona Millar will amongst the panel leading a discussion about the future of Hackney schools at 7pm Tuesday 23 March in The Round Chapel, Clapton.

Like any type of school, some academies do well, whilst less so. Critics of academies argue that Hackney schools are being privatised and divided, and that competition between schools will mean there are winners and losers.

But others argue that the idea of a democratically accountable local authority providing good schools is finished and ‘trust’ schools are the solution.

New ideas put forward recently include the creation of ‘free schools’ which would allow parents to set up and run their own school.

Critics argue that whilst the ‘market’ is supposed to deliver better schools, many parents don’t get their first choice – as many Hackney parents of Year 6 children will have found out last week.

Ken Muller, Hackney parent said, “We keep being told academies and trust schools will give parents more choice.

“What most of us want is the choice to send our kids to a good local school which can be held accountable to the local community.”

“A lot of local parents are denied that choice in Hackney today – as we were five years ago when we had to send our oldest son to a school in Islington because he was refused a place at the two schools closest us.

“All academies and trust schools do is widen social divisions, remove schools from any effective democratic control and set them in competition with one another.”

Other speakers on the platform include Kevin Courtney (Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers), Alasdair Smith of the Anti-Academies Alliance and Mervyn Wilson, Director and Chief Executive of the Cooperative College.

All interested Hackney parents, students, school and college staff and residents are welcome to attend and take part in the ‘Great Debate’ on Tuesday 23 March at the  Round Chapel, Powerscroft Road E5.

For further information, contact Ken Muller on 07950 075 088 or email ken-muller@blueyonder.co.uk.