Educating Nicky

AS A former chair of school governors in Croydon, I’m always sad to hear of a school in difficulties and I have great sympathy for the pupils, parents and staff at Quest Academy, a pupil of which has challenged the head for calling his charges stupid (Mail).

It should be noted the poor GCSE results it achieved (below Department for Education minimum targets) occurred at an academy, not a school controlled by the local authority.

When he was Education Secretary, Michael Gove pursued an aggressive ‘academisation’ policy, maintaining this was the only way in which to improve schools. Although many academies have improved, others haven’t.

The rationale for academies is achievement of excellence through freedom from local authorities. unfortunately, this freedom can also allow lack of control, accountability and ‘transparency’.

Mr Gove’s successor Nicky Morgan should, as a matter of urgency, implement steps to bring the appointment and monitoring of academy trusts under closer control.

BOB BELL, Croydon.