Oral Answers to Questions

Chi Onwurah Excerpts

Monday 16th April 2012 Commons Chamber

[Michael Gove]

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for the care he shows in ensuring that every school in his constituency finds itself in the right position and has the right status. When an academy order is granted, it is a rules-based process; if a school satisfies certain criteria, it is appropriate that an academy order be issued in most circumstances. Subsequently, however, a number of concerns—beyond those that the right hon. Gentleman rightly raised—are being investigated. At the conclusion of that investigation, I will make sure that the right hon. Gentleman, as the constituency Member, and others are informed about the decision that is eventually taken.

[Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)]

8. What recent discussions he has had on academies and free schools in Newcastle upon Tyne Central constituency.

[The Secretary of State for Education (Michael Gove)]

My Department has a series of meetings with individuals in Newcastle and elsewhere about the progress of academy and free school applications.

[Chi Onwurah]

A free school is being proposed in Newcastle right next to an academy that was built only three years ago. Additionally, primary and secondary schools across the constituency are being forced to convert to academy status against the wishes of parents. Now that the city council finds that it faces a legal bill of hundreds of thousands of pounds for these conversions, will the Secretary of State assure me that the council tax payers of Newcastle will not have to pay for the chaos he is imposing on our education system?