Academies criticised over maths and English results
Friday, 23 February 2007
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Tony Blair's flagship academies are criticised today for their poor performance in maths and English exams.
An investigation into the £5bn academies programme by the National Audit Office (NAO), the public spending watchdog, concludes it is providing value for money and raising educational standards for pupils in deprived areas. But it recommends that the privately sponsored academies should give higher priority to literacy and numeracy - as only 22 per cent of their pupils got top-grade passes in maths and English at GCSE compared with a national average of 45 per cent.
The report also warns that the cost of building most of the academies has exceeded the original budgets. In 17 of the 26 completed academies examined, the project went over-budget by an average of £3m per school. In addition, four of the sponsors - who are expected to contribute up to £2m - are behind with their payments.
Sir John Bourn, head of the NAO, said: "Our report shows that the academies programme is improving the standards of education and raising the achievements of pupils from deprived backgrounds."
He noted that GCSE results were rising at a faster rate than in neighbouring schools facing similar circumstances. But he warned: "More remains to be done particularly in English and maths results."
The report adds: "Academies should give a high priority to literacy and numeracy learning to equip all of their pupils with these essential skills. The Department's education advisers should mirror this priority."
The report shows that performance in the three Rs has increased at a much faster rate than the national average - going up from 16 per cent achieving C-grade passes in maths and English to 22 per cent over the past year (a 6 per cent rise compared with 1 one per cent nationally).
The report warns that performance in A-levels "has been poor so far" - with pupils on average scoring 541 points for university entrance (the equivalent of three C-grade passes) compared with an average of 722 (three Bs) for all schools. It points out that many of the academies took over from schools which did not even have a sixth form and therefore did not see A-levels as a top priority.
The findings were welcomed by Schools minister Andrew Adonis. He said: "Their first line says 'most academies have made good progress in improving GCSE results and the programme is on track to deliver good value for money'."
On maths and English, he added: "Up 6 per cent this year compared to 1 per cent nationally. What more could you realistically expect them to do year on year?"
However, Edward Leigh, the Conservative chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said: "There has been major stumbling along the way - most of the first academies have had cost overruns that have averaged around £3m."
