When the Conservative Government introduced grant-maintained-status schools, parents were given a vote on whether the school should change its status. Grammar schools still need to ballot parents on a change of status. Parents have no vote over changes to academy status. Should they?

In Calderdale we are being told that academies are the "only game in town", the only way to get the funding that schools need. Community schools are funded at a lower rate than academies. Should they not be funded the same rate as academies?

Academies are publicly funded but don't have to abide by the Freedom of Information Act, unlike other schools. Should academies, like all other schools, have to abide by the Act?

Academies are not covered by requirements on maintained schools. In particular this limits the rights of parents of children with special educational needs. Should academies be treated in the same way as all other maintained schools?

Academies have different arrangements for governing bodies with fewer parent and staff governors; academy sponsors hold the majority on governing bodies. Should academies have at least as many parent and staff governors as other types of schools?

Academies are managing their intakes in a way which damages other local schools and do not come under a common admission arrangement. Should academies, like all local schools, come under a common admission arrangement?

Some academies are worsening pay and conditions for staff. National pay and conditions apply to all state-funded schools. Should they also apply in academies?

The education system in Fin-land has the highest results and the most equal results in Europe yet does not have different types of schools or a school "market place". Do you support good local schools for all our children?

Some sponsors, like the Church of England and United Learning Trust, are developing big national networks of academies, with far more schools than many local authorities but with far lessaccountability. Should the provision of education be locally accountable through local elections as academies are not?

Will you make public your answers and ask the Courier to publish them?

Sue McMahon
(Secretary, National Union of Teachers, Calderdale Division)