Islington Tribune - News: Academies 'damaging schools;

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Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 25 April 2008

Ken Muller

Academies ‘damaging schools’

School ‘shocked’ at cuts to pupil numbers as union slams ‘disruptive impact’

CITY academies are having a detrimental effect on some of the borough’s schools, it was revealed this week.
At least four schools are having to reduce their admissions following the establishment of the first academy resulting in a loss of money.
Richard Ewens, headteacher of Islington Arts and Media School, has expressed his “shock” at being asked to cut his intake by 30 pupils.
A report presented to last night’s (Thursday) meeting of the council’s executive recommended two primary and two secondary schools reduce their intake, prompting unions to blame city academies for harming the borough’s schools.
The report says academies have impacted on the pattern of pupil transfers and suggests the reduction of pupils at Islington Arts and Media School from 180 to 150 – against headteacher Richard Ewens’s will – will also affect staffing numbers.
In a letter to CEA@Islington, the company that runs the borough’s schools, Mr Ewens said he and the school’s governors were shocked to learn school rebuilding plans were being drawn up for a 750-pupil school.
He said: “I would courteously request that for all planning purposes over the next five years IAMS is six-form entry with a total roll of 900, thereby enabling us to continue with our outstanding capacity for self-improvement.”
The reduction means the school will get less money from the schools fund Building Schools for the Future.
But not everyone is unhappy. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson school, which reduced admissions temporarily from 240 to 180 in 2006, has asked for the reduction to be made permanent.
Headteacher Jo Dibb is happy to have a smaller school. She said: “They (academies) haven’t impacted on admissions. Our admissions are up by 23 per cent this year. Increasingly parents are realising that they can get a very good experience by choosing Islington schools. We don’t feel limited, we asked for the reduction. We think it’s a better size of school.”
Primary schools Robert Blair and Ambler have also been asked to drop a class size. Robert Blair headteacher Mark Miller has agreed to the change on condition the reduction is temporary.
Islington National Union of Teachers steward Ken Muller said: “This certainly confirms our worries about the disruptive impact academies will have on other schools. If they reduce numbers in schools they should take the opportunity to reduce class sizes and not undermine IAMS.
“This is going to have an impact on the children and staff and will possibly result in job cuts.
“We would steadfastly resist any attempt to reduce staff sizes. The report appears to say the surplus places are as a result of Mary Magdalene and academies in Hackney.”
A council spokesman said: “We are delighted the quality of education at the IAMS was commended by the Ofsted inspection in January. We’re fully supportive of the school’s proposals on becoming a trust school, and recognise that the partnership with Creative Partnerships is expected to add considerable value to the school.
“Over the coming years, we need to bear in mind predictions on roll numbers across the borough into the next decade, when finalising the appropriate secondary provision best suited to meet the needs of the young people of the community.”

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