Bearing in mind that Swindon Borough Council is proposing to finance the replacement of Hreod Parkway School through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), it is worth noting that this policy has just failed in Southwark.

Swindon already had a bad experience with privatised administration of housing benefits through WS Atkins. We should not repeat the same mistake.

The London Borough of Southwark had handed over administration of schools to WS Atkins, and after two years the company pulled out of the deal early. Unbelievably, it has just been announced that the company has been given a further £2 million since quitting the contract.

Eamonn O'Kane, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, is quite right to say that this leaves the policy of funding education through PFI in tatters.

A Newman

Secretary Swindon Socialist Alliance

Avenue Road