| DO WE WANT ACADEMIES IN MERTON? |
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August 2005 Jo Christie Smith, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Mitcham & Morden says: "Education in Merton needs improving, but before Merton Council, supported by Siobhain McDonagh MP, rush headlong into the Government's pet City Academy scheme, they should wait until a proper evaluation of the existing academies is completed."City academies are the Government's flagship response to failing schooling in urban areas. There are now 17 across the country. They are a highly experimental solution to failing schools that has neither been proved nor disproved. Although some academies are working well, others have failed recent OFSTED reports. Some of the private companies hoping to run them are pulling out, so there are clearly problems to be resolved. "In April, the Commons Education and Skills select committee reported that the estimated £5 billion funding the City Academy scheme should be withheld until research proves that they are cost effective. "If the Government are so confident of their scheme, they should give similar cash injections and freedom from Whitehall to all schools within the Borough. Sharing the funding and freedom amongst all our schools would be beter for young people throughout Mitcham & Morden."
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