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University in talks to sponsor Academy school
Proposed secondary could be controversial ‘private’ model
UNIVERSITY College London is trying to raise cash to turn Camden’s proposed new secondary school into a science-based City Academy.
Malcolm Grant, the provost, confirmed on Saturday that the Bloomsbury-based university is in talks with private companies in a bid to raise around £2 million in sponsorship cash.
He said: “There is a sense in UCL that something really should be done to bring in outside assistance to raise standards of teaching.”
The timing of Mr Grant’s comments has caught the Town Hall off guard because UCL has already registered interest in sponsoring the ongoing project to open a new school in Camden.
Council chiefs are supposed to be still considering whether their initial suggestion of land in Adelaide Road, Swiss Cottage, is the best site available for the new school and are yet to face the full brunt of opposition towards using City Academies.
But Mr Grant’s comments to the Financial Times newspaper on Saturday have led to concern that the main discussions are going on behind closed doors.
He said: “A lot of voluntary work in local schools is already done by staff and students (from UCL) but it seems to me we can do far more, particularly in encouraging science and maths which we regard as being in serious decline in the state sector.”
The Institute of Education (IoE) – also in Bloomsbury – has also raised interest in sponsoring a new school in Camden.
Camden’s education chief Councillor Andrew Mennear is aware that there will be a backlash in Camden against the City Academy model which effectively takes control of schools out of the council’s hands. Parents, governors and unions have already registered concerns whenever the spectre of private sponsors has been raised. Many attended the Anti-Academies Alliance conference – ironically held at the IoE – on Saturday.
As potential funders of the new school, UCL would gain control of the appointment of governors and help direct the ethos of the school – a direct concern for campaigners.
Labour’s shadow education chief Councillor Geethika Jayatilaka said: “Once again it feels like there are a lot of discussions going on and comments being made in the press but no actual details being provided.
“The proper channel would be for young people, parents and schools to have an input in the future of education in this borough.”
Cllr Mennear said: “We have always said that UCL expressed an interest and we knew that they were interested in developing science as a subject.
“There is no immediacy in the plans at the moment. The expression of interest has only been at a preliminary stage.” |
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