How predictable that Conservative councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council will be supporting the proposed academy at Falmer. Councillor Maria Caulfield accuses those of us campaigning against the academy of “just wanting to make a political point” Letters, July 16).

I’m sure Coun Caulfield’s politics have nothing to do with her support for the academy.

Of course we want to make a political point, which is: why must investment in education be dependant on privatisation? The vast majority of any funding for the new academy will come from the public purse yet the “sponsor”, Rod Aldridge, for putting up a fraction of the cost will gain control over vital areas of the schools curriculum, admissions and staffing terms and conditions.

If Mr Aldridge is so generous why doesn’t he just donate the money to the school?

Why the strings?

Academies are not some pragmatic approach to a funding shortfall. They are part of a politically driven agenda, supported by Tories and New Labour alike, to give public assets and services to the private sector and big business to run for a profit.

Academies mean privatisation.

Would it surprise anyone to know that Rod Aldridge is a major shareholder in the outsourcing firm Capita? It will be interesting to see which firms profit from the contracts that will be tendered in building any academy at Falmer.

Coun Caulfield seems willing to accept Government blackmail saying that academies are “the only source of funding we currently have”. This is a worn out argument. We were told the same thing about council housing.

Making public money available instantly if it is linked to privatisation and delaying it if it is not is a political decision not an inevitability.

Sean Figg, Trafalgar Street, Brighton