Church sponsorship of Academy is opposed by MP

12.00.00am GMT Fri 21st Dec 2007

Possible sponsorship of a proposed Academy in South Colchester by the Diocese of Chelmsford has been criticised in the House of Commons by Colchester MP Bob Russell.

Mr Russell - who is opposed to proposals by Essex County Council to shut the town's Alderman Blaxill and Thomas Lord Audley secondary schools and replace them with a Government-backed Academy - was able to raise the issue during Church Commissioners Questions.

Describing himself as someone with a Christian upbringing, "from good Non-Conformist stock", Mr Russell said that being involved in the closure of two community schools against the wishes of local people was not the best way for the Anglican Church "to win hearts and minds."

There has been huge opposition registered by people who want to keep the Alderman Blaxill School at Shrub End, and there is also growing opposition to the link proposal to shut Thomas Lord Audley College at Monkwick and build a 1,200 place Academy on the TLA site at a cost of around £25 million.