Commenting on the education select committee report on the role of regional schools commissioners, UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said:
“UNISON has long said that the removal of school provision, planning and support from local government creates a multitude of problems.
“Today’s report makes clear that the committee has serious concerns about the performance of the regional schools commissioners and the national schools commissioner role.
“Adding in regional schools commissioners to oversee academies has created confusion and duplication. What schools need are clear support mechanisms to help them to deliver the best education possible.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
– All UNISON press releases can be found at www.unison.org.uk/news/media-centre/
– There are eight regional schools commissioners responsible for “approving and monitoring academies and free schools in their area on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education. They also have powers to take action when these schools are not performing or to make changes such as changing the academy sponsor. A national schools commissioner oversees these posts.
– The report makes 27 recommendations for improving the ways in which RSCs operate.
Contacts:
Media enquiries:
Alan Weaver T: 020 7121 5555 M: 07939 143310 E: a.weaver@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad T: 020 7121 5255 M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk
