Labour’s controversial plans to overhaul the academy school system have been slammed as “madness” by leading education figures, who warn the proposals will harm disadvantaged pupils and undermine years of progress in improving school standards.
Lord Harris of Peckham, the founder of the Harris Federation, which runs over 50 primary and secondary schools across London, has urged the government to rethink its approach before it is too late.
Writing in The Times, he warned that Labour’s plans to strip academies of key freedoms would damage the education system and put some of the most vulnerable children at risk.
The proposed Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill would see academies forced to follow the national curriculum for the first time, limiting their ability to tailor education to pupils’ needs. Schools would also lose the right to hire expert teachers without formal qualifications, a policy that has allowed successful academies to bring in industry specialists for key subjects such as science, engineering, and the arts.
“Failing schools are letting people down. We have to make sure we do not let our children down,” Lord Harris wrote. “The best way to address failing schools is to allow good academies to take over, and give them the freedoms that have made them successful. Taking these away is madness.”
Concerns from Industry and Education Leaders
Lord Bamford, the founder of the JCB Academy in Staffordshire, has also raised concerns over the legislation. The academy, a specialist vocational school opened by the King, has an impressive track record of preparing students for high-profile careers with companies such as Rolls-Royce and Toyota.
“The JCB Academy was set up to prepare young people for the world of work, specifically in engineering and business,” said Lord Bamford. “Since it opened 14 years ago, it has helped teenagers thrive with its unique mix of academic knowledge, technical skills, and life-changing experiences. I would hate for this education success story to end, or be damaged, by a piece of legislation that fails to take account of this school’s unique characteristics and purpose.”
The school, which takes students from over 70 different schools and receives 450 applications for just 180 places each year, allows a tenth of its teachers to remain active in industry, bringing real-world experience into the classroom. This arrangement could be under threat under Labour’s new rules, which insist all teachers hold formal teaching qualifications.
Max Jeffery, chairman of the academy’s governors, echoed these concerns: “We’re not trying to be political or ideological about this, we’re just concerned and want to be pragmatic. We have an academy which children and parents in the area value.”
Labour’s Education Secretary Accused of Putting Unions First
Former Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman has accused Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson of prioritising the demands of teaching unions over the interests of children. Writing in The Telegraph, Spielman warned that Labour’s proposals could cause lasting damage to the education sector.
“It is hard to understand the motivation, beyond being seen to be different,” Spielman wrote. “The new minister is clearly giving a great deal of time and attention to the desires and demands of unions. And alas, unions will always defend the interests of the adults in schools over those of children. I do hope she will think again before the damage is done.”
A System That Works – Why Change It?
Lord Harris, who has overseen the transformation of failing schools into top-performing academies, emphasised that the current academy model is delivering results. The Harris Federation, which educates 45,000 children across 55 academies, has seen two-thirds of its schools turn around from failure to success, with 73% now rated outstanding by Ofsted, compared to a national average of just 14%.
“Margaret Thatcher came to see me open a City Technology College 36 years ago,” Lord Harris recalled. “I didn’t know much about them, but I put in the right leaders and within five years, that school was twice the most improved in the country.”
Building on that success, Tony Blair expanded the programme before Michael Gove accelerated its growth under the Conservatives. But now, Lord Harris warns, Labour is set to reverse years of progress.
He recounted the battle to transform Downhills Primary School, a failing school that faced fierce union opposition when the Harris Federation took over. Activists, including MP David Lammy, campaigned against the move, leading to protests and even threats. But despite the hostility, Harris pressed on, and today the school is thriving, rated outstanding by Ofsted.
The Impact on Disadvantaged Students
The Harris Federation’s success has been particularly striking for disadvantaged students. Last year, 61% of its sixth-form pupils from low-income backgrounds went to university, with 15% securing places at prestigious Russell Group institutions. Nationally, fewer than 20% of disadvantaged students go to university at all.
But Labour’s Schools Bill, Harris warns, would stifle this progress. “It will stop our academy leaders from being able to tailor the curriculum when they take over failing schools,” he said. “It will make it harder to fight union opposition to academies taking over struggling schools. And it will stop us hiring specialist staff, such as sports, music, and science experts, who don’t have traditional teaching qualifications but bring invaluable experience to the classroom.”
Labour Must Rethink Before It’s Too Late
With Labour pushing ahead with the Schools Bill, Lord Harris has issued a final plea: “We want more academies. We want better schools for everybody. The Schools Bill will do the opposite, harming the most disadvantaged families. I hope Labour will think again.”
A Department for Education spokesperson defended the government’s approach, stating: “Recruiting and keeping high-quality teachers in our classrooms is the single biggest driver of high standards in schools. Our landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will ensure that all children have qualified teachers at the front of their classrooms, driving high and rising standards.”
But with opposition mounting from leading academy figures, education experts, and industry leaders, pressure is growing on Labour to reconsider its approach before it derails a system that is demonstrably working.
