Labour needs to learn to love Academies

By Mike Ion / @mikeion

Academies work. A brief analysis of this year’s results indicates that the proportion of pupils gaining 5 or more A*-C grades in academies has increased by an average of 7% and by 5% when English and mathematics are included. Although the national benchmarks for 2009 will not be available until league tables are published in January 2010 it is unlikely that the rate of increase will be much above the 2.1% figure for last year (0.9% including English and mathematics.)

At Mossbourne Academy in Hackney a staggering 84% of pupils gained 5+ A*-C grades (including English and mathematics) – a performance that is way above the national average. Mossbourne is a true comprehensive and has worked with other Hackney schools – many of whom also saw their results improve this year.

Despite these undoubted successes it is still the case that the very notion of Acdemies as ‘independent state schools’ is too much for many Labour party members and supporters (including some MPs.)

Surely the real challenge for Labour party members and supporters across the country is in making education in the inner city both transformational and inspirational. It is just possible that academies may provide a means of local communities meeting these challenges. What many people overlook is that in the setting up of so many of these new academies in areas of significant social and economic deprivation, the government has rediscovered what many used to call “compensating measures”.

The truth is that for communities trapped in a cycle of educational failure and under achievement the academy programme is offering new energy, new purpose and new opportunities for young people who deserve better. It is however, incumbent on all of us to ensure that such ambitious and expensive programmes benefit the communities that they are intended for and do not become the preserves of the middle classes.

The road to securing better educational opportunities for all is paved with good intentions and many critics of the Academy programme remain understandably wary of yet another top down initiative. The reality is that virtually all of the post-war restructuring of the secondary school system in England: grammar schools; city technology colleges; grant maintained schools and even specialist schools – has mainly benefited the middle classes and not the urban poor.

The advantaged and educated have always known how to ensure that their children attend the establishments that will help them become advantaged too. Many fear academies will end up doing the same – though there is little evidence that they are and much of this anxiety could be circumvented, if the government were to legislate for a fairer admissions system operated by a local authority or other outside body where no school could set its own admissions criteria.

In areas where generations have been trapped in a cycle of failure academies are now offering new energy, new purpose and new opportunities for young people who deserve better. It is beholden on us all who believe in the comprehensive ideal to ensure that such ambitious and expensive programmes benefit the communities that they are intended for.

Academies are providing life changing opportunities for thousands of some of most disadvantaged young people. Labour should be proud of the academy programme and the sooner ordinary Labour party members learn to love and champion these schools the better.