SCHOOLS in Trafford, with support of our local authority staff - LEA - have achieved highly in Trafford over many years, under Labour and Conservative controlled councils, though we accept there are still inequalities which need to addressed by local action.

However, the decision to force schools to become academies in Trafford, when the majority are local authority-LEA controlled, is a very serious attack on our democracy.

For those schools that have become academies that has been their choice, but forcing schools is a different matter, for it is democracy itself that is now under attack. For the first time since 1870 locally elected people are to be excluded from oversight of schools in their area.

There are many excellent academies, as there are local maintained schools, but no evidence whatsoever that academies are in themselves the best way of raising standards.

There will be no consultation with headteachers, staff, parents, the local community or governors .There will no longer be parent governors.

Also there is already a shortage of teachers which will only make the situation worse.

I became a parent governor over 30 years ago which led to my interest and involvement in education and I know first-hand the commitment shown to their local schools by parent governors.

All of this to be discarded, to be taken over by chains of academy trusts that are often remote from local communities and unapproachable by parents.

In Trafford, only 22 per cent of schools are academies and they have worked with the LEA as partners and there has been a good relationship, so why throw all this away ?

Only nine per cent of Trafford primary schools are academies.

Finally the towns, cities and 10 boroughs of the Northern Powerhouse are ideally placed to take on joint responsibility for education and yet the Government has devolved transport and health, but not education.

If the Northern Powerhouse is to work then local schools, supported by local authorities, have a major part to play in raising standards, developing skills and workforce planning.

The Chancellor just does not understand the value of local democracy, and has seen the academisation of every primary school and secondary school as a budgetary matter as opposed to an educational matter.

However there is no mention of admissions, attendance, special needs, looked after children, pupil referral services, so where will these responsibilities lie ?

Cllr. Jane Baugh

Shadow spokesperson - children and young peoples services