Labour has been accused by the Conservatives of “flip flopping” over its support for a new sixth form college in Middlesbrough which will be a partnership between the prestigious Eton College and the Star Academies trust.
At a Middlesbrough Council meeting, parallels were drawn with the plight of the town’s Outwood Riverside school, which is currently being hosted in temporary accommodation and may not move to a new-build site until 2026 at the earliest.
Image: Middlesbrough
Councillor Edward Clynch, who is chairman of the council’s children and young people scrutiny panel, claimed the new Eton Star Teesside free-to-attend college due to be established in Middlesbrough town centre could “snatch” teachers, students and resources away from other institutions in the town.
In response to the comments from Cllr Clynch, a teacher who represents Labour in the town’s Park ward, the Labour-run council’s executive member for education and culture Councillor Philippa Storey agreed there was a real concern, especially from sixth form education providers, of a “hugely damaging impact” caused by the impending arrival.
Speaking after the debate, Conservative Councillor Mieka Smiles, a former deputy mayor, said Labour appeared to have “done another about turn” and was “flip flopping” on Eton Star Teesside, current Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke having stated last month that it would provide a regeneration boost and strengthen the town’s further education offer.
Cllr Smiles, whose seat is in the Nunthorpe ward, said she was astonished at the comments at the meeting and the party’s representatives had “slammed” the proposal which was recently approved by the Government.
She suggested another local authority location chosen for one of the new academies, Oldham, which is Labour controlled, had “welcomed it with open arms”.
Image: Middlesbrough Council
Cllr Smiles, who has been described as “championing” the move, said: “We are one of only three places in the country that are getting one of these, which means a lot more funding.
“Literally everyone I have spoken to is in support of this.”
Posting on Facebook, Cllr Smiles said Eton Star Teesside would help talented young people access the country’s top universities, where currently many were not.
Last month Star Academies chief executive Sir Hamid Patel said the new sixth forms would produce “extraordinary, transformative outcomes not only for their students, but for the wider communities too”.
‘Causes me great concern’
Image: Middlesbrough
Posting a question to Cllr Storey, Cllr Clynch said: “[The] announcement that a new Eton college will be coming to Middlesbrough causes me great concern that the hard work this council is doing to improve access to education will all be for nothing.
“Eton will damage Teesside’s education sector and the life chances for young people in Middlesbrough.
“The new Eton will take resources, teachers and students from other education providers.
“In Middlesbrough we have Outwood Riverside which [has welcomed] its fourth-year group into a temporary building that is not fit for purpose.
“The resources to build a new college should be diverted to building a school for these students.”
Cllr Clynch added: “Eton will snatch some of Middlesbrough’s best teachers from our current sixth forms and secondary schools.
“These teachers will no longer be able to help some of our most disadvantaged students achieve their full potential.”
Cllr Clynch said the new sixth form college would “help move talent from our area down to London and the South”.
Cllr Storey replied: “There’s real concern with Eton Star, especially from our sixth form providers, that they are going to have a hugely damaging impact.”
The deputy mayor said it could “poach staff and students from our providers, which are already good and outstanding”, adding: “I don’t think Eton Star is needed and I do have serious concerns about the fact that Outwood Riverside is still in temporary accommodation.”
Addressing the position with Outwood Riverside, which is now in its second temporary home and due eventually to move to a new site in Lower East Street in the Middlehaven area of Middlesbrough, she said a meeting in Westminster next month had been scheduled which she was attending with the town’s MP Andy McDonald.
A spokesman for Mr McDonald, who has himself been critical of the Eton plans, claiming the college would “simply cream off and badge as their own” able and advantaged students, confirmed the meeting was taking place with Baroness Barran, the Minister for the School System and Student Finance.
