Profiles

Proposals to introduce academies in Barrow and Carlisle have been given a mixed reception by parents north and south of the county.

Campaigners opposed to plans for Thorncliffe, Parkview, St Bernards and Alfred Barrow being subsumed into a planned academy in Barrow say the decision to go ahead is being investigated by the Local Government Ombudsman. The protesters have lodged a complaint saying the County Council's consultation was "biased", and didn't take account of the "overwhelming opposition".

Pupils are concerned about their education

Following the announcement that Morton School, St Aidan's and NCTC in Carlisle are to be replaced by two academies this year, 700 parents packed the Sands Centre to raise their concerns.

Listen again to BBC Radio Cumbria's coverage of the story with breakfast presenter Gordon Swindlehurst as he interviews parents, pupils and officials including the Anti-Academy Alliance and the Chief Executive of the schools involved.

Your views

BBC Radio Cumbria's Carlisle and Eden reporter Sarah Penn went along to a 700 strong meeting of concerned parents who aired their concerns to officials. Listen again to her report to hear what parents had to say and the response from the Chief Executive of both academies Peter Noble.

Katie and Sarah Burns who're both students, in years 11 and 12 respectively at St Aidan's, give their comments after listening to the report to Gordon Swindlehurst.  Sarah says their questions haven't been answered and both hate the idea of wearing uniforms. Their younger brother will be up at NCTC so the family will be split up. They all attended the meeting. Katie says she'll leave if they make her wear a uniform.

Last week it looked as if parents voted with their feet when applications to St Aidan's, North Cumbria Technology College and Morton were well down but with applications to other city centre schools significantly increased.

In this report pupil Alex Turner talks about not getting accepted for his first choice of schools and his mother expresses her concern. Gordon then speaks to Peter Noble the Chief Executive of both new academies about their concerns over transport and the adjustment of starting a new school in September, ahead of the Sands Centre meeting.

In response to Alex Turner and his family's concerns over the selection process the coverage also includes a statement from Cumbria County Council.

The Anti-Academies Alliance

Gordon speaks to Alisdair Smith, secretary of the alliance, about his reasons for objecting to the academies programme and how it's affected other areas of the country.

Headteacher from North Cumbria Technology College  (NCTC)

Head of one of the schools affected, Mark Yearsley from NCTC, responds to parents and pupils concerns in an interview with Breakfast presenter Gordon Swindlehurst.