100,000 pupils’ education overseen by a handful of rich men

Huge powers over the education of thousands are in the hands of just a few wealthy men.

Evidence released today by Education Uncovered, shows that nearly 200 state-funded schools in England are now controlled by rich philanthropists.

The use of academies – started under Tony Blair, but vastly expanded under the coalition – means that controlling sponsors have a vast array of powers and little to no oversight from parents, teachers, pupils or local government.

Analysis of ten trusts – who are all run by men and between them educate over 113,000 pupils – shows how these sponsors are ultimately in charge. Through scrutiny of their constitution and accounts, Education Uncovered revealed that they have a huge say over the appointment of trustees. These, in turn, set the overall strategy for a school – including the curriculum. They also hold the management to account.

Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The academies project has always been in the interests of the few, not the many. It has resulted in a fractured and confusing schools landscape, and a Wild West for those who wish to exploit it. Today’s research shows that the altruism and vocation of teachers is rarely reflected at the top of academy trusts.

 “There is a great deal at stake for education in this General Election. Voters must look at this research and ask themselves in whose interests schools should be run. At a critical time in our history, this is an opportunity for us to change course as a country and vote for education.”

Examples of these business leaders include Lord Harris of Peckham, whose family are in charge of 48 state-funded academies educating 32,500 pupil. The constitution of the trust gives him the right to appoint up to 32 trustees.

 Also the co-founders of the hedge fund firm Marshall Wace, who, alongside former Conservative treasurer Lord Fink, form three-quarters of the directors of a charity which is in charge of another London-based chain, Ark Schools. This has 38 schools and 26,000 students.

8 Responses to “100,000 pupils’ education overseen by a handful of rich men”

  1. Dave Roberts

    Jew hater Chris Williamson resigns fro Labour.

  2. Alasdair MacVarish

    Chris Williamson is not at all a Jew hater. He was quite correct in stating that Labour has leant over backwards to accommodate the mostly false accusations of the Jewish Labour Movement. Berger did not need a police escort to attend conference. The men threatening her were all right wing nasties and 3 have been jailed. Ian Austin, John Mann and others have also been lying and are now Tories

  3. Mike Stallard

    Free Schools when Michael Gove was in charge. I wanted one! So I went to the meeting in London. I couldn’t;.t understand why there were so few teachers and so many middle aged men in pin stripes! I asked the man sitting next to me…
    Now I know.

  4. Mike Stallard

    Free Schools when Michael Gove was in charge. I wanted one! So I went to the meeting in London. I couldn’t; understand why there were so few teachers and so many middle aged men in pin stripes! I asked the man sitting next to me…
    Now I know.

  5. Eric Walker

    I am not a member of the Labour Party but I wonder who Dave Robert is? I think it quite likely that he is a ‘sleeper’ put into the L.P. by Shai Masot, one time Senior Political Officer at the Israeli Embassy in London about5 or so years ago. He was exposed in a 4 part TV series shown on Aljazeera T.V. and was recalled to Israel when the scandal about him became public. The programme is called THE LOBBY and can be seen on You Tube
    I belonged to the Yellow Star Movement in London which older readers may remember was set up to counter Oswald Mosley’s attacks on the Jewish population in Ridley Road Hackney in the 1950s.

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