THE response by executive member for education, Councillor Hollins, to the arrival of the independent state-funded academy (simply a "school") at Darwen has in effect extended and deepened presented concerns inside and outside this educational sector.

For instance, he states "The centre will be under no obligation to teach the national curriculum." Whose school is it?

What is now happening at Darwen is that a state school, "our" school, is separated from the democratically elected local authority and becomes virtually the permanent possession of an unelected business leader

It is hardly surprising then that this new school is being called "Capita High."

In the North East, an earlier introduced academy is sponsored and directed by the Vardy Foundation -- a well established Christian group, publically well known, basing itself on creationist teaching with a rejection of Darwin's theory of evolution.

The chairman of governors, Sir Peter Vardy, who owns a car dealership, is the financial link with the foundation.

Locally the central question of concern for Councillor Hollins as education chief must be who is in charge?

For instance how does the control and direction of this arriving academy compare and contrast with our existing similar schools?

Much better, given what is unquestionably a fundamental change of control of our education system and avoiding recourse to the Freedom of Information Act, would the councillors set out the full and exact detail of the official agreement reached with Mr Aldridge?

CLIVE EDWARDS, Hope Street, Blackburn.