Give schools real freedom not arbitrary restrictions

By Kevin Brennan MP

When you give schools freedom they offer subjects kids thrive in. We saw this in the Academies created under Labour, and consequently they shot up the old-style league tables.

Michael Gove frequently, and rightly, cites these Academies as examples of excellence. But they do badly in his so-called English Baccalaureate and therefore plummeted down Gove’s new league tables yesterday.

Of course the basics of English and Maths are the foundation, but allowing relevant choice to pupils and parents has meant that schools have been able to engage students and offer them the chance to gain the skills and experience they need to succeed – as evidenced by their improved results.

The English Bacc is restrictive and arbitrary.

Two examples of Academies that we know produce outstanding results for their students but have done badly under Michael Gove’s English Bacc measure are:

– Outward Grange Academy, Wakefield, where only 2% of students achieved the English Bacc. Michael Gove described this as an “excellent school” in November.

– Pimlico Academy, where only 6% of students achieved the English Bacc. One of Mr Gove’s new DfE board members is John Nash, sponsor of Pimlico Academy (recently rated outstanding by Ofsted).

Choosing to rate schools against an arbitrary measure they were never asked to achieve is a kick in the teeth for those who have achieved outstanding progress for their students. A pupil with 10 A* grades in English, Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, French, ICT, Religious Studies and Politics is deemed by Mr Gove to have failed to achieve the English Bacc because Geography or History is not included. However a pupil with grade Cs in English, Maths, Geography, Double Science and Latin will have achieved an English Bacc pass. There will be many such arbitrary anomalies.

Michael Gove should have consulted properly before introducing this undercooked idea to our education tables. It will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of many hardworking teachers and their pupils.

Kevin Brennan MP is Labour’s Shadow Schools Minister