Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Watts Excerpts

Monday 24th June 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North) (Lab)]

16. What measures are in place to ensure that academies are open to public scrutiny.

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

Academies are open to greater accountability and scrutiny than other state-funded schools. Performance data including exam results, inspection reports and financial accounts are published for each academy. Academies are also accountable through analysis from the Education Funding Agency, and through greater data transparency and an improved inspection system academies are more open to public scrutiny than ever before.

[Mr Watts]

I thank the Secretary of State for his response, but schools such as Byrchall High in Wigan are refusing to provide written responses to MPs’ inquiries. Is it not clear that the Secretary of State needs to act if there is to be public accountability on spend in those schools and public accountability on policy?

[Michael Gove]

It is absolutely regrettable if any principal or head teacher declines to respond to a request from an elected Member of Parliament. I will look into the case, but I should stress that academies are subject to freedom of information. The previous Government did not allow that, but this Government brought it in.