Expanded academies programme welcomed

Sir Bruce Liddington, the Director General of EACT, has welcomed the Government’s commitment to the academies programme outlined by the Education Secretary.

Speaking following a visit to EACT’s Parkwood Academy in Sheffield by Secretary of State for Education, Ed Balls, Sir Bruce said EACT’s vision of delivering educational excellence for all was embedded in the strategy to renew and reform state education.

The former Schools Commissioner for England said: “Multi-academy sponsors such as EACT remain committed to transforming life opportunities for students. We bring a range of knowledge and expertise and we use our links with partners to transform education in the academies we create. While improving the outcomes for our students is the number one priority, we also seek to support regeneration and community engagement in the projects we manage – from delivering multi-million-pound new academy buildings to developing new education and leisure facilities for the whole community.

“It’s an attractive and successful model and by announcing plans to expand the academies programme, the Government is putting its weight behind long-term change and improvement. I think this is a strong indicator of a new way of delivering secondary and potentially primary education in the future.”

EACT has opened six new academies this term, with multi-million plans to develop new academy facilities at each of the sites in London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Leeds.