At the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games, Noah Hanson won a silver medal for Team England in the 110m hurdles. He was only 0.04 seconds behind the Gold Medal winner and he has gone on to represent Team GB at international events. Noah attended the Bobby Moore Academy on the Olympic Park, a school with a strong sporting ethos. Opened in 2017 by the David Ross Education Trust, I personally invested a significant amount of time and financial resources to ensure the sporting legacy of 2012 was more than just a pipe dream. Noah now attends the University of Houston in the United States, running for one of the US college system’s leading track and field teams.
This is a remarkable achievement, and one that is replicated regularly across the Academy chain I established in 2006 – whether it be in classrooms, music schools or on sports pitches across our network. Much comment has been made about academic and curriculum freedoms that academies and free schools have – in reality these freedoms permeate every aspect of the school day. As does the entrepreneurial spirit, drive and determination to change and make things better – for kids and teachers. This is what the academy system was supposed to do: challenge the status quo and enable all children, regardless of background, the opportunity to excel. Things that were often seen as a preserve of the wealthy, are being offered to DRET children – opportunities that would otherwise only be seen in the independent sector.
When Noah came to the Bobby Moore Academy, we identified his talent, and we nurtured it. The same applies to Rowan, who hopes to start a postgraduate course at the Royal College of Music in September. We provide children from all backgrounds with the opportunities to unleash their potential because we have the flexibility and independence to do so. A ‘one size fits all’ approach will fail. However, passing through the House of Commons, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill threatens to remove these key freedoms, for what?
These innovations and opportunities are not limited simply to the pursuit of academic excellence. Within David Ross Education Trust schools we give students unparalleled access to the arts (through workshops with world-renowned artists), we support students to perform with the Nevill Holt Opera, Shakespeare Schools Festival and the National Youth Orchestra, we give them access to Athletes through our relationship with the British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association, and numerous other Governing bodies. We are regularly National Champions in both basketball and Table Tennis and win national and country representation across many sports.
We are able to do this because of the freedom that we have as an Academy chain. What do I mean by freedom? I mean that because we aren’t hamstrung by centrally dictated restrictions, children at DRET aren’t bound to a national curriculum that restricts them from nurturing individual and unique talent, enabling them to experience incredible academic, cultural and sporting opportunities alike. The removal of these freedoms will harm the ability of Academy chains like mine to innovate in a way such as Noah was able to enjoy at Bobby Moore Academy.
These innovations have been crucial to children’s success and in supporting teachers to provide a high-quality education to their pupils. The list of good and outstanding schools now demonstrates just how important this has been to thousands of children in all parts of the country. This has only been possible because of the determination of a highly motivated team of teaching professionals. This Bill risks undoing this, harming educational outcomes and the life chances of so many of our nation’s children.
When I first founded my trust, I pledged significant financial resources and time, on the understanding that the schools within my trust would have certain key freedoms. Many others across the country have done this too. These freedoms have been fundamental to our success. Now, the Government is poised to renege on those promises.
We made our commitments in good faith, believing that future governments would uphold the promises and commitments made by Andrew Adonis, during the Blair government. The unvarnished success of the Blair era has been supported by prime ministers and secretaries of state ever since. To turn their backs on this and see these freedoms stripped away now is not only a betrayal of that trust but, more importantly, a disaster for the children who most need this education.
The Bill will mean a new generation of children stand to be denied the opportunities the free school revolution brought to others. When it comes to opening new schools, local authorities are simply no longer able to deliver the quality of teaching our young people deserve.
The opportunity to be taught an intellectually enriching curriculum and participate in properly resourced activities – whether it be sports, art or culture, cannot be merely the preserve of the wealthy. At DRET, 36 schools have either been turned around or started from scratch. 15,000 pupils now receive an education of the highest quality, with opportunities and aspirations that they will often be the first generation of their family to enjoy. Why would any government feel the justification – or the need – to get involved and imperil this?
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