Liberal Democrats will oppose city academies in Brighton & Hove

6.25.09pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 18th Oct 2005

Liberal Democrats on the City Council will not support proposals for a City Academy at Falmer School.

Group Leader Councillor David Watkins said: 'We are about high standards of education for all schools. We are against individuals buying into our local schools - our schools are not for sale.'

'No-one can deny the challenging situations faced by teachers but it is not clear that an Academy offers all the answers.

'Elsewhere these have not been the roaring success Labour claim they have been. We need a proper evaluation of previous schemes before this is even considered.'

In the summer Ofsted recommended that the Unity City Academy in Middlesborough needed 'special measures'. The report raised serious questions about the whole City Academy project, and although the aim of City Academies is to raise standards, despite huge injections of cash standards have slipped yet further.

Liberal Democrats have opposed such proposals in Newcastle, Sunderland, Merton, Knowsley and other areas.