This is strange. On 10 October Labour MP Ken Purchase asked a very straight question in Parliament: was it Government policy 'to agree to fund Building Schools for the Future programmes where the local authority has produced a sound plan for the development of secondary education whether or not an academy is included'.

The reply he got, in a written statement from Jim Knight MP at the Department for Children, Schools and Families, was equally clear: "It already is our policy to fund Building Schools for the Future projects whether or not an academy is included".

Yet Parkwood parents are clearly being told that their school will be rebuilt only if they agree to an academy.

What do you think? Post your comments below.

This raises two questions: Firstly, are Sheffield Council really saying that the Government has deliberately misled people in a written statement to Parliament?

This is a serious allegation to make.

Secondly, are the proponents of academies so unsure of the merits of their arguments that they feel they are only able to sell them with the threat of withdrawing £20 million of government funding for a new building if they are not agreed?

Clearly, if parents at Parkwood are really being given a choice, then the government money should be there whatever choice they make.

Otherwise, any talk of 'consultation' is fatuous. The only correct word for this is blackmail.

Read the original story. Click here.

Meanwhile, most seriously, we are all being robbed of our local authority-run, democratically accountable, integrated school system.

My fear is that we will regret this privatisation for years to come.

Ben Morris, Sheffield North Anti-Academies Alliance

READ MORE
ACTION DESK: Conmen prey on dog lovers.
LETTERS: Is Sharrow parking permit zone bad for business. Give us your views.
BUSINESS: Japanese backing for Sheffield firm's tidal power project.