Education Ministers Questioned By MP

Christopher Pincher asks Ministers to back Tamworth’s schools.

Tamworth’s Member of Parliament, Christopher Pincher, used the last ministerial question time of 2010 to ask education ministers to do all they can to support education provision in the town.

His intervention follows the announcement last month that the four remaining Local Education Authority secondary schools in the town are pursuing academy status, either as part of the Landau Forte academy (QEMs) or as schools within a collegiate academy run by E-ACT, a new academy charitable provider (Rawlett, Belgrave and Wilnecote).

Mr. Pincher specifically asked Education Minister, Nick Gibb MP, whether the collegiate academy would be able to offer sixth form services if there is demand for them in the town.  The minister responded by saying that this could be considered.

The detailed exchange between Mr. Pincher and Mr. Gibb is:

Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con): What recent progress has been made on his Department’s academies programme in (a) Tamworth constituency and (b) England?

The Minister of State, Department for Education (Mr Nick Gibb): Ministers have recently agreed proposals for two new academies to replace four Tamworth schools
to be taken to the next stage of development, subject to the approval of the governing bodies. In addition, Landau Forte academy in Tamworth opened in September for 11 to 16-year-old pupils, and its new sixth-form centre will open in September 2011. Across England, there are now well over 350 academies, of which 158 have opened during this academic year.

Christopher Pincher: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that answer. Will he, with me, congratulate all the other secondary schools in Tamworth that are now pursuing academy status beyond the dead hand of the LEA? Will he agree to support, to the best of his ability, those potential academies and academies sponsored by E-ACT that may wish to offer sixth-form provision if there is demand for it in the town?

Mr Gibb: I congratulate Queen Elizabeth’s Mercian school, Belgrave high school, Rawlett community sports college and Wilnecote high school on seeking academy status. The OECD research is clear that autonomy at school level, combined with objective external assessment, is the key to success. We are keen to improve the quality of sixth-form provision and to look at all proposals. In the case of Tamworth, that would mean considering this in the light of the new sixth-form centre that is currently being built and due to open next year.

Speaking afterwards Mr. Pincher said:
“I am pleased that ministers recognise the importance of investing in our local schools and that any collegiate academy can be considered for the provision of A level teaching.  So the door remains open if there is demand for alternative sixth form services.  I had a good talk earlier in the year with the leadership team at Landau Forte.  They seem very determined to make a success of the job they have been given.  I will certainly discuss with them their plans for QEMs which is in dire need of investment.   And I look forward to meeting Bruce Liddington of E-ACT to discover more about E-ACT’s proposals for a collegiate academy involving Belgrave, Rawlett and Wilnecote.  It is essential that they keep everyone, especially parents, teachers and, of course, pupils, clearly informed and engage them in their proposals.”
“Tamworth’s schools still need capital investment and local people back the need for such investment.  I will continue to lobby Schools Minister Lord Hill, the County Council and potential academy sponsors to ensure we get what we need.”