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"Liberal Democrats do not accept that academies offer the answer to our educational problems and I would therefore oppose the merger of St Bernard's and St Joseph's." 

So says Chris Tucker, Prospective Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Slough.

In a response to an email asking for his opinion on the merger he replies:

 Dear Mr Welsh,

Thank you for your message. As a teacher I am particularly interested in all educational matters.

My main principle would be that schools should serve their local communities. Our experience has been, both in Slough and across the country, that academies fail that test. You probably remember the stories in the local press last September, about the new Langley Academy rejecting local children, but accepting some who lived a much greater distance from the school. Liberal Democrats do not accept that academies offer the answer to our educational problems and I would therefore oppose the merger of St Bernard's and St Joseph's. Following the same principle, I would also strongly urge St Bernard's to accept more children from Slough than is currently the case.

I hope the above is helpful; please contact me again if you require more details.

Incidentally, in my capacity as Slough Libdems PPC. I have offered to speak to sixth formers at St Bernards but did not receive a reply!

Yours sincerely,

Chris Tucker.

P.S. The Liberal Democrats main priority in education would be to provide additional funding for children from poorer backgrounds via a 'Pupil Premium'. With these children receiving the same funding as private school pupils, we would expect to see an improvement in social mobility and schools competing for these boys and girls rather than the reverse.  

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