LONDON, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Private donors to Tony Blair's city academies can obtain honors by sponsoring the schools, a senior program adviser claims.
The Sunday Times of London reported that Des Smith, a council member of the trust that helps recruit academy sponsors, disclosed if a donor gave sufficient money, he could be nominated for an OBE, CBE or even a knighthood.
He said a benefactor who gave to "one or two" academies might receive such an honor, while a donor who gave to five would be "a certainty" for a peerage.
Suspicions of a link between honors and donations to academies -- Blair's scheme for new privately backed schools -- have existed since the ambitious program of establishing up to 200 academies began in 2001. Six of the biggest academy sponsors have already been honored after pledging their money.
However, Smith backtracked when confronted by The Sunday Times.
"It is not possible (to acquire an honor by a donation)," he said.
