SCHOOLS should hold meetings with parents before signing up to become part of Bolton's planned education action zone, say union chiefs. Eighteen schools in Breightmet and Tonge have until the middle of next week to officially sign up to the controversial scheme. It was introduced nationally in a bid to raise standards in areas where pupils are lagging behind.

But union chiefs say parents and governors are still in the dark about the exact effect on local schools and have called for education chiefs to set up meetings so they can find out more.

They are particularly angry that training days have been arranged for governors next month - after the final date for schools to sign up to the scheme.

Unions and education chiefs are bitterly divided about education action zones and how much power a newly set-up "zone forum" will have to influence what happens in the classroom in Breightmet and Tonge schools.

Education chiefs say the forum - made up of headteachers, governors, business and community leaders - will only have the power to oversee specific projects paid for with the additional £750,000 expected to be attracted to the zone area.

But the National Union of Teachers and public sector union UNISON say the forum will be much more influential and believe it is a step towards privatisation. They also bitterly oppose proposals to set up a Foundation to take control of school buildings in the zone area.

Implications

UNISON spokesman Dave Gibbons said: "Parents and governors need to be aware of the implications because we believe an EAZ is in effect 18 schools opting out of local authority control and last time this happened, parents were balloted. As far as we are aware, they have not arranged a single meeting for parents to discuss the EAZ.

"A governors' training day is scheduled for October 18 and it includes topics such as What is an Education Action Zone? This is basically admitting that governors do not understand how an EAZ works and we are very concerned that they will be signing up without the answers to such basic questions.

"We believe officials are pushing this through without parents or governors being aware of the significance of this important development."

But Deputy Director of education, Terry Piggott strongly denied the union claims and said an information leaflet has been distributed and each school had made their own arrangements to consult with parents.

He added: "It is not true that schools are opting out, this is completely different. There are no changes at all to governors' powers, as was the case with grant maintained schools. Nor will there be changes in the pay and conditions for staff.

"We have had numerous meetings with governors over the past year and they have all the information they need to make an informed decision. This is just further training which is part of a continuing programme.

"Hopefully the staff representatives will now start to be positive about this initiative which could bring in significant resources and benefit childrens' education in Breightmet and Tonge."

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