AN EAST Lancashire MP has set out her priorities on education as she takes up her place on the House of Commons’ dedicated select committee.

Kate Hollern, who was elected as Blackburn’s MP for the first time in May, said she wants to push for fair school funding across the country and ensure Ofsted inspections are robust.

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The Labour MP, who is a former leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said that being on the committee was a “great chance” to scrutinise the government’s education policy.

She said that while she was not against schools becoming academies, they should not be forced into the conversion if it was not right for them.

The MP said: “I want to make sure that schools across the country have access to fair funding. That is one of the main things that I will be wanting to focus on over my time on the committee.

“I also want to push to ensure that Ofsted inspections are robust and not open to government pressure.

“I worry that some inspections are deliberately being hard on good schools in order to force them into turning into an academy.

“I’m not against academies and I’m in favour of anything that improves education, however, I do think that schools should only become academies if it’s the right move for them.

“It should not be because of government pressure or because it’s the only way for them to go.”

While she was council leader, Mrs Hollern supported the Aldridge Foundation taking over schools in Darwen.

The issue of academies is still a topical issue in Blackburn, with a only a fraction of the secondary schools in the town still under council control.

Pleckgate High School is the latest to announce that it is seeking to become an academy, a process that is likely to be completed by the end of the year.

Mrs Hollern added: “I will also be able to scrutinise the government’s education policy, which is a great opportunity.”