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City academy on agenda
School association fears sponsors could edge out parent governors
SCHOOLS chiefs deciding the fate of Pimlico are considering sponsoring their own academy as its replacement.
A new breed of academy schools is emerging across the country, co-sponsored by councils and the private backer.
Kent has announced it is to sponsor 26 of the “community academies” and Kensington and Chelsea has entered into a deal with the Diocese of London.
Nicola Aiken, a Tory councillor for Pimlico, said: “I would be very interested in this.”
Schools minister Lord Adonis has indicated the sponsor would always have the upper hand, including having a majority of school governors.
But the council believes the scheme would sugar the pill for parents, teachers and pupils urging them to “Keep Pimlico School Comprehensive”.
The Pimlico School Association fears private sponsors will edge out parent governors and leave the school unaccountable to the local authority.
At the City Hall overview and scrutiny committee meeting on Wednesday, calls from the public gallery included “why don’t you fully sponsor the school?”
Headteacher Jo Shuter and Quintin Kynaston governor Patrick Lees put their case for a possible federation with Pimlico. Ms Shuter, recognised as the best secondary school head in last week’s Teaching Awards, said: “If it is a successful community school that you want then QK is the model. We have the ambition to preserve Pimlico’s ethos in Westminster. We feel duty bound to be part of its future.”
Despite this, and pleas from the Pimlico School Association, the meeting was dominated by questions from councillors about academies.
Labour Cllr Steve Summers asked DfES academies expert Heath Monk if admission criteria could be enshrined in the lease.
He added: “I still don’t understand why an academy would be better than a community school?”
Mr Monk said: “The answer is in the quality of governance and commitment that is added to the school,” adding “I do not know about the lease.”
Councillor Tim Mitchell, chairman of the overview and scrutiny committee, said: “The council has to consider which option will improve teaching, pupil behaviour, attendance and strategic planning at the school.
“Other considerations include the security of investment in new buildings and the impact on neighbouring schools of changing Pimlico.”
The cabinet is due to decide Pimlico’s future on July 9. |
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