This update aims to inform UNISON members and organisers of some of the latest news about academies – and to assist local campaigns to oppose forced academies.

The Academies Enterprise Trust (AET) is the fastest growing Academy chain. There are questions about the extent of AET experience. Do they have the capacity to run 38 schools? Do they have sufficient primary experience?

Figures in a recent government consultation paper on the funding of academies have revealed that Gove’s policy of getting schools to convert to academies is expected to cost nearly £600 million more than planned over the two year period 2011 – 2013.

“The wholesale privatisation of our education system is coming another big step closer” said UNISON, the UK’s largest union today (26 March). The claim is …

Susan Moyse, a parent of a child at Downhills primary school, has advised the Secretary of State of her intention to seek a judicial review of the decision to replace the school’s Governing Body with an Interim Executive Board (“IEB”).