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Blair's favoured schools rejected Blair's favoured schools rejected
(about 3 hours later)
Tony Blair's ambitions for academies and trust schools have received a setback with the decision to establish a new council comprehensive.Tony Blair's ambitions for academies and trust schools have received a setback with the decision to establish a new council comprehensive.
The Schools Adjudicator's decision was on four competing proposals to build a £27m secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Haringey, north London.The Schools Adjudicator's decision was on four competing proposals to build a £27m secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Haringey, north London.
The council plan beat a not-for-profit trust and academies backed by a City foundation and a Christian charity.The council plan beat a not-for-profit trust and academies backed by a City foundation and a Christian charity.
The government had tried to stop English councils building new schools.The government had tried to stop English councils building new schools.
Its own Labour MPs forced a concession on this issue during the progress of the Education and Inspections Bill last year.Its own Labour MPs forced a concession on this issue during the progress of the Education and Inspections Bill last year.
Haringey wants a new school, to open in 2010, to meet rising pupil numbers.Haringey wants a new school, to open in 2010, to meet rising pupil numbers.
Its brief was for an arts and media specialist school to cater for 1,080 boys and girls, with an extra 25 places for students with autism.Its brief was for an arts and media specialist school to cater for 1,080 boys and girls, with an extra 25 places for students with autism.
The result showed there is a level playing field and we are giving communities genuine choice Schools Minister Andrew Adonis The government's original Education and Inspections Bill would have insisted on all new schools being independent of local authority control, in the form of trusts.The result showed there is a level playing field and we are giving communities genuine choice Schools Minister Andrew Adonis The government's original Education and Inspections Bill would have insisted on all new schools being independent of local authority control, in the form of trusts.
It had to water this down in the teeth of fierce opposition from its own backbenchers.It had to water this down in the teeth of fierce opposition from its own backbenchers.
But there does have to be a competition for all new schools. Councils can referee these, but if they are bidding themselves the decision rests with the Office of the Schools Adjudicator.But there does have to be a competition for all new schools. Councils can referee these, but if they are bidding themselves the decision rests with the Office of the Schools Adjudicator.
In this case a panel of three adjudicators considered the competing proposals.In this case a panel of three adjudicators considered the competing proposals.
The others were:
  • a trust school, backed by educational trust CfBT
  • an academy backed by Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College Trust, educational offshoot of one of the City livery companies, which already runs two other academies
  • an academy backed by the United Learning Trust, a subsidiary of the charity the United Church Schools Trust, which is involved with 13 other academies.
The others were:
  • a trust school, backed by educational trust CfBT
  • an academy backed by Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College Trust, educational offshoot of one of the City livery companies, which already runs two other academies
  • an academy backed by the United Learning Trust, a subsidiary of the charity the United Church Schools Trust, which is involved with 13 other academies.
The panel felt all had strengths and weaknesses but could be successful.The panel felt all had strengths and weaknesses but could be successful.
The CfBT and ULT proposals were "the least persuasive", while Haringey's and Haberdashers' Aske's had "much to commend them".The CfBT and ULT proposals were "the least persuasive", while Haringey's and Haberdashers' Aske's had "much to commend them".
Haberdashers' Aske's had alienated some of the local community by proposing to absorb the local primary school into its federation - allegedly without having told the school.Haberdashers' Aske's had alienated some of the local community by proposing to absorb the local primary school into its federation - allegedly without having told the school.
In the end the panel gave the nod to the Haringey Council proposal. In the end the panel said the Haringey Council proposal was the most convincing.
Our proposal for a community school is the right one for the parents and pupils Haringey's Cllr Liz Santry Schools Minister Andrew Adonis - a chief advocate of the academies programme - put a brave face on the outcome. "The proposal capitalises on the promoter's knowledge of the borough, draws on what has been learned in recent years in improving education in the borough, and emphasises the potential collaboration with other local schools."
Our proposal for a community school is the right one for the parents and pupils Haringey's Cllr Liz Santry Schools Minister Andrew Adonis - chief driver of the academies programme - put a brave face on the outcome.
"The first ever competition was a great success, generating interest from four different potential new school providers who were able to offer local families a choice about which type of school best suited their needs," he said."The first ever competition was a great success, generating interest from four different potential new school providers who were able to offer local families a choice about which type of school best suited their needs," he said.
"The result showed there is a level playing field and we are giving communities genuine choice and a real say in raising standards of education.""The result showed there is a level playing field and we are giving communities genuine choice and a real say in raising standards of education."
Public consultation on the plans received few responses, but also came down in favour of the council scheme.Public consultation on the plans received few responses, but also came down in favour of the council scheme.
Haringey's executive member for children and young people, Liz Santry, said it was delighted with "this vote of confidence by the Schools Adjudicator".Haringey's executive member for children and young people, Liz Santry, said it was delighted with "this vote of confidence by the Schools Adjudicator".
"We have been successful in our collaborative approach in improving all our schools."We have been successful in our collaborative approach in improving all our schools.
"Exam results by Haringey schools have improved at twice the national rate consistently over the last six years."Exam results by Haringey schools have improved at twice the national rate consistently over the last six years.
"Our proposal for a community school is the right one for the parents and pupils of our culturally diverse borough.""Our proposal for a community school is the right one for the parents and pupils of our culturally diverse borough."
  • The Church of England is in talks with the government about expanding its network of faith schools.
    • The Church said it was aiming to open 100 academies. It already has 20.
    The National Secular Society attacked the plan as "Blair's parting betrayal of the majority of the population who are not practising any religion".