British Airways and Sainsbury's among firms to run schools

By Joe Lepper Monday, 26 October 2009

Sainsbury's, British Airways and Marks & Spencer are among a number of firms that have been given the green light to help run schools as part of an expansion of the trust school programme.

Ed Balls has announced that a further 114 schools have joined the programme, which involves schools being run in partnership with businesses as well as other schools and colleges.

Other firms involved in this latest wave of trust schools are The Holiday Inn, Northumbrian Water, Unilever and the Co-operative Group, which will be involved with 25 of the schools.

Balls said: "Trust Schools are becoming increasingly popular as they are demonstrating how they can help to raise standards and offer new opportunities to pupils and staff."

He said he was particularly pleased with the increase in co-operative school trusts, as these have a commitment to involve parents, staff and pupils in running schools.

Balls hopes to see 200 co-operative trust schools up and running or in the planning stage over the next year.

So far there are 240 trust schools, working with around 400 partners.