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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| PM to boost private-fund schools | PM to boost private-fund schools |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| PM Tony Blair is to announce a major expansion in England of the city academies programme, which aims to improve schools in disadvantaged areas. | PM Tony Blair is to announce a major expansion in England of the city academies programme, which aims to improve schools in disadvantaged areas. |
| In a speech in Birmingham, Mr Blair will say he wants 400 academies, double the present target for the year 2010. | In a speech in Birmingham, Mr Blair will say he wants 400 academies, double the present target for the year 2010. |
| The academies are independent of local authorities and part private-funded. | The academies are independent of local authorities and part private-funded. |
| Mr Blair is also expected to want 100 of the equally controversial new trust schools to be planned by next spring. Changes in exams are also mooted. | Mr Blair is also expected to want 100 of the equally controversial new trust schools to be planned by next spring. Changes in exams are also mooted. |
| Baccalaureate | Baccalaureate |
| Mr Blair is to appear at the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust annual conference, in a speech marking 10 years since he vowed to make "education, education, and education" his priorities. | Mr Blair is to appear at the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust annual conference, in a speech marking 10 years since he vowed to make "education, education, and education" his priorities. |
| He is expected to praise academies as an "integral part" of education that bring "more choice and higher standards". | He is expected to praise academies as an "integral part" of education that bring "more choice and higher standards". |
| City academies and trust schools are at the core of Mr Blair's education policy and both have proved controversial. | City academies and trust schools are at the core of Mr Blair's education policy and both have proved controversial. |
| City academies started opening in 2002. | City academies started opening in 2002. |
| To become an academy, a school must raise up to £2m from private sponsors. In return, the government pays the rest of the start-up costs, typically £25m. | To become an academy, a school must raise up to £2m from private sponsors. In return, the government pays the rest of the start-up costs, typically £25m. |
| Critics are concerned that the outside sponsors - for example, businesses, faith groups and charities - have too much control over the school governance. | Critics are concerned that the outside sponsors - for example, businesses, faith groups and charities - have too much control over the school governance. |
| The current target is for 200 to be established or agreed by 2010. The government is halfway towards this. | The current target is for 200 to be established or agreed by 2010. The government is halfway towards this. |
| Trust schools were enabled in the Education and Inspections Act, with some Labour backbenchers fearing they would lead to a two-tier education system. | Trust schools were enabled in the Education and Inspections Act, with some Labour backbenchers fearing they would lead to a two-tier education system. |
| Under the new legislation parents, businesses and voluntary groups can run trust schools. | Under the new legislation parents, businesses and voluntary groups can run trust schools. |
| The trusts will take control of their own buildings and land, directly employ their own staff, and will set and manage their own admissions criteria, while remaining state maintained schools. | The trusts will take control of their own buildings and land, directly employ their own staff, and will set and manage their own admissions criteria, while remaining state maintained schools. |
| Expertise | Expertise |
| Schools Minister Andrew Adonis is confirming the latest list of potential partners: Unilever, the Co-operative Group and College, Exeter University, Laing O¿Rourke, Essex University, Sunderland University, the University of Wolverhampton and the University of the West of England. | Schools Minister Andrew Adonis is confirming the latest list of potential partners: Unilever, the Co-operative Group and College, Exeter University, Laing O¿Rourke, Essex University, Sunderland University, the University of Wolverhampton and the University of the West of England. |
| "It shows the range of potential partners that can bring expertise to the table to help schools develop," he says. | "It shows the range of potential partners that can bring expertise to the table to help schools develop," he says. |
| He will announce plans for a wave of "early adopter" trust schools which will be eligible to apply for up to £10,000 to help with set-up costs. | He will announce plans for a wave of "early adopter" trust schools which will be eligible to apply for up to £10,000 to help with set-up costs. |
| There are now 30 "pathfinder" projects embracing more than 50 schools. | There are now 30 "pathfinder" projects embracing more than 50 schools. |
| The Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, is also expected to announce significant changes to advanced school exams, backing the International Baccalaureate Diploma as an alternative to A-levels in the state sector. | The Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, is also expected to announce significant changes to advanced school exams, backing the International Baccalaureate Diploma as an alternative to A-levels in the state sector. |
| A-levels will remain, however. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is piloting plans to make them more challenging for the brighter students. | |
| But this has brought it into conflict with the government, whose preferred option was to have a new section in A-levels covering material from the existing, separate Advanced Extension Awards. | |
| Mr Johnson's predecessor, Ruth Kelly, told the QCA the government "would be extremely concerned" about the impact of new grades and more demanding questions on the existing A-level standard. |