Education campaigner Melissa Benn at Halifax meeting this evening

Education campaigner Melissa Benn, daughter of Tony and Caroline Benn, will meet with parents, teachers, school governors and councillors to discuss the on the impact of academies, admissions policies and new forms of testing and assessment on schools and on pupils’ progress.

Ms Benn, founder of the Local Schools Network and current chairwoman of Comprehensive Future, said: “Across the country there are more and more horror stories about the effect of current Government policies and particularly about the stress levels on teachers, head teachers and pupils.

“Teacher shortages, obsessive testing, unfair admissions and financial irregularities in academies are becoming the norm.

“Without a radical change of direction, our schools face a decade of chaos, fragmentation, pressure on pupils and parents and potentially massive misuse of public funds.

“All this and no guarantee of improved performance.”

The meeting will take place in the Victoria Hall at 7.30pm.