| |
Westminster Academy has been issued with a stark warning by Ed Balls |
'I'LL CLOSE THE FAILING ACADEMIES'
Education Minister warns schools they must improve results
TWO newly formed academy schools in Westminster have been branded as “failing” by education minister Ed Balls.
Westminster and Paddington academies, which replaced North Westminster Community School (NWCS) in September 2006, must radically improve GCSE grades by 2011 – or be shut down.
They were named and shamed in a list of underperforming schools released by Mr Balls on Monday.
Karen Buck MP, a Paddington Academy parent who campaigned for the academy to replace NWCS, said: “The grades are a million miles away from where I want those schools to be.
“I would like to see them with 80 per cent of pupils getting five A-Cs at GCSE. The system of governance is really of little importance. We did what we had to do with NWCS, which I campaigned for and I stand by that decision.
“If they have not done then we will have to rethink our strategy.
“I met with Ed Balls on Wednesday about ?this. What we are trying to do is improve teaching, leadership, resources and create a more balanced intake.
“The academies are in one of the most deprived parts of the country.
“If Mr Balls is going to give us more money to do that at Westminster and Paddington because they need to improve then I welcome the announcement – it is absolutely fine.”
She added: “It is too early to start judging these schools – they have only had one set of grades since they opened.”
Mr Balls included the three Islington schools in a list of 600 nationwide where less than 30 per cent of pupils achieve five A*-C grades.
He said on Monday: “If it is the right thing to do, we will close schools.
“I think people will say this will help us transform standards in our area, it’s what parents want
“You can break the link between poverty and results. A change in governance, a new partner, often a change of head, an injection of funds – these things can really get a school back on track.”
Just 17 per cent of pupils at Westminster Academy – specialising in business and run by the Iraqi millionaire Naim Dangoor’s education charity, the Exilarch Foundation – achieved five A*-C GCSE grades, the second worst results for any secondary school in London.
At Paddington Academy, 25 per cent of pupils achieved five A*-C grades last summer.
Phil Hearne, headteacher of Paddington academy, agreed. He said: “It is not surprising that a lot of academies are on the list – they are replacing some of the poorest performing schools in the country.”
And Westminster Academy headteacher Alison Banks said: “It is totally meaningless to us – we became an academy because we were a failing school.
“By looking at the GCSE results it hides a lot of the progress we’ve made. In two years, when this year’s Year 9s get to GCSE’s, things will be completely different.”
Padraic Finn, secretary of Westminster NUT, said: “We have said since the beginning that fiddling around with ownership is not the solution.
“Standards, not structures has always been our slogan. It is experimenting with pupils’ futures.
“In September there will be no schools under the control of the local authority. The Government and the council are washing their hands of its responsibility.” |
 |
|
| |
| |
