BOLTON TUC was dismayed to learn that Turton High School is planning to convert to Academy status.

Teacher unions and the wider trade union movement have always opposed academisation of schools, because they take control away from local authorities and are driven by the profit motive, thereby turning education into a commodity essentially no different from any other supermarket commodity.

What is especially depressing about Turton's academy discussion is the fact that it flies in the face of the ever-increasing evidence of the failures of academies across the country.

There is no evidence to suggest the academy model provides better educational results, and an increasing number of examples where failure has quickly followed the adoption of academy status (readers can find their own Bolton examples).

One thing that has improved dramatically across the country following academisation is the salary of the headteacher, which is higher in some academy chains than that of the Prime Minister.

Another change has been the increased number of corruption charges against school leaders for misuse of school funds.

When PFIs were first introduced into Bolton in the 1990s, they were opposed by the teacher unions; support was given by politicians because it was said they were " the only show in town" . Would anyone support PFIs today?

How long before the academy system goes the way of PFIs? How many young people will have their education undermined in the meantime? Why is the voice of trade unions dismissed once again, despite increasing evidence-based corroboration by educational experts?

The Labour Party are committed to returning schools to local authority control when they form the next government. It would help if Labour councils promoted this policy more vigorously, including current guidance to Turton High School here in Bolton.

Tom Hanley

Bolton TUC