Schools minister in academy row

16 June 2009 Education

No member of the Socialist Education Association (SEA) can legitimately support the government's academies programme, the chair of the organisation has claimed.

Last week, it emerged that Vernon Coaker, the new schools minister, is amember of the association.

But its chair Tony Pearce told CYP Now that opposing academies is coreto the association's work.

He said: "Academies are not the best way of organising secondaryeducation. There should have been a proper trial before millions ofpounds were pumped into the scheme."

Coaker said he disagrees with some of SEA's policies. He said he joinedthe organisation because he is passionate about breaking the linkbetween poverty and education. "I'm looking forward to continuing theacceleration of the academies programme," he added.

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