Sheffield MPs say age, experience and transparency are issues for free school board

From the Sheffield Telegraph: http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/local/mps-urge-examination-of-first-city-free-school-1-6423148

The paper says: 'Angela Smith and David Blunkett have written to express concerns that Chapeltown Academy has not yet announced its location, despite it being due to open in September, and it sponsoring body “has very little teaching experience”.



'In addition, the MPs say the academy is refusing to reveal the names of those on the shadow governing body.'


Details:

The letter from Angela Smith includes this: 'All we are left with is the certain knowledge that the sponsor, Chapeltown Academy Ltd, has scarce teaching expertise and very little knowledge within its ranks as to how a school needs to be run, if it is to be successful.

Some of its directors may have engaged in teacher training, but only one of these has been consistently engaged in the profession....

'The shareholders are in fact made up of 2 project managers, a business consultant, a management consultant, a police officer (local parent) and 2 teachers... As we have already said, only one of these teachers has any significant professional experience in education.

'Moreover, the average age of the Board of Directors is just 32, with 5 of the Directors below the age of 30. This is not a Board which inspires confidence, in that it lacks both breadth and depth in expertise and experience.'