A 'GREAT debate' on the future of secondary education in Tamworth is set to get underway tonight.

Parents and students are invited to the Assembly Rooms from 7pm to discuss and ask questions on what is best for the town's children – trust schools, academies or free schools.

"We have been told that Academies are the way to raise our children's educational achievement," a spokesperson for the Anti Academies Alliance, which is hosting the meeting.

"Yet like any type of school, some academies do well; others struggle.

"Critics of academies argue Tamworth's schools are being privatised and divided, and that competition between schools will mean there are winners and losers.

"Others argue that the idea of a democratically accountable local authority providing good schools is finished and that trust schools are the solution.

"There are new plans for trust schools in Tamworth. There is an even more extreme version of privatisation and deregulation.

"The Tories are talking about creating new, free schools which will allow any parents to set up and run their own school.

"This market is supposed to deliver better schools, but many parents don't get what they want. So what do parents really want? Come and hear the debate."

Speakers tonight will include Ally Bird, former Tamworth school pupil, Jenny Pinkett, Liberal Democrat candidate for the town and Alasdair Smith, from the Anti Academies Alliance.

For more information email office@antiacademies.org.uk or call 07528 201 697.

● The debate comes in the same week that county council bosses announced that construction company Willmott Dixon has awarded the £33million contract to build the town's new academy, which is set to replace Woodhouse High School, in Highfield Avenue, under Staffordshire Council Council's Building School's for the Future programme.

As well as the building academy's 11-16 school, Willmott Dixon will construct the Tamworth's new single post-16 centre, which will serve the entire borough.

Existing high school sixth forms are to be phased out.

Both establishments will be managed by the Landau Forte Charitable Trust.

"Staffordshire County Council has worked closely with colleagues from Landau Forte Charitable Trust during the selection process and both bidding contractors have put an extraordinary amount of effort in throughout the autumn," explained Cllr Ian Parry, Deputy County Council Leader.

"This decision brings us one step closer to increasing the choice and diversity in Tamworth by introducing an academy and demonstrates a major commitment to future secondary education in the area."