Education secretary praises ‘brilliant’ Charles Dickens School

At education questions this week, Bermondsey & Old Southwark Labour MP Neil Coyle asked: "Charles Dickens Primary School is an outstanding foundation primary school in my constituency, which, along with the London Borough of Southwark, rightly has great expectations for all Southwark students.

"The chair of its governors has been in touch with me to express his concern about the enforced academisation of schools.

"Why is the secretary of state ignoring the concerns of staff, governors, parents and pupils?

"Why is she insisting on dictating a structure that offers no choice, but only the academy approach, which could damage the standard of the education that is currently provided?"

Nicky Morgan replied: "I had the pleasure of visiting Charles Dickens Primary School during the last academic year.

"It is an absolutely brilliant school, with an inspirational head teacher.

"I want that head teacher not only to help, support and inspire the young people in her school, but to spread the excellence of her school to other schools in the area that are struggling.

"That is what we want to see in the education system. I am surprised that Labour members are not interested in raising standards for all children in all parts of the country."