Rona Kiley goes a long way to rebut the unjustified criticisms of academies that have reverberated around the Easter union conferences.
Academies do not undermine the state system. Their leadership team face enormous challenges with too many commentators expecting results on a wholly unrealistic timetable.
The fact is that the families from the communities served by the academies deserve the best possible deal.
Academies are a solution, but not the only solution, to the needs of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. They deserve to be treated on a par with other schools and not subjected to a barrage of unfair comment.
David Hart General Secretary National Association of Head Teachers, 1 Heath Square Boltro Road Haywards Heath West Sussex
