Industry News
Conservatives set out education plans
Posted on 20th November 2007
The Conservatives have pledged to create an extra 220,000 school places in a drive to raise standards and increase opportunity.
A newly published green paper sets out the opposition's plans to reallocate £4.5 billion in funding to new academies.
This would allow parents, companies and charitable organisations the power to set up academies using state funding.
However, Steve Sinnott, leader of the National Union of Teachers said such a move would "impose a massive cut on funding for already promised new schools and school repairs".
Recently, the government urged successful private schools to become academy sponsors and offered to waive the minimum £2 million in sponsorship private backers are supposed to offer.
Schools minister Lord Adonis told headteachers at the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference it is their "educational DNA" the government wants to tap into and not their fee-generated income.
He said that for many independent schools, working closely with an academy could offer a chance to fulfil their founders' original vision.
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