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Results have improved
• WESTMINSTER Academy is surprised that you would print a feature full of inaccuracies, and offer us no chance to reply before going to press (‘Academies are failing’, March 6).
Westminster National Union of Teachers secretary Padraic Finn has misquoted our GCSE results.
In the four years before North Westminster Community School closed, its students consistently obtained GCSE results of between 25 and 27 per cent at five A* to C grades.
In the short time that Westminster Academy has been open results improved to 43 per cent at five A* to C grades.
In addition to the big improvement in academic results, Westminster Academy has also transformed behaviour, attitudes to learning, the students’ outlook and ambition.
The allegations in your article undermine our staff and students’ hard work and their families’ efforts to support them.
MAUREEN PEPPER
Culture and Communication Manager
Westminster Academy
The Naim Dangoor Centre
Harrow Road, W2
Misinformation!
• YOUR article (‘Academies are failing’, March 6) gravely misinformed your readers on the purpose of the new Education Commission and the performance of academies in Westminster.
First, it is important to note that the commission has come together to improve exam results and raise the achievements of pupils across Westminster’s schools from their early years to further and higher education.
While academies are, of course, part of our school offer, parents can also choose voluntary-aided schools or a school with foundation status.
Westminster has just achieved its best ever GCSE results with more than 66 per cent of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades, well above the national average.
But we want our schools and students to do even better and build on their success.
Secondly, contrary to what your article suggested, results at Westminster Academy are steadily improving.
It is also totally incorrect to say that the overall academies programme is failing.
Only last week Paddington Academy was praised by an Ofsted report, which described the school as offering a wide curriculum and good support for students and Pimlico has also seen a 25 per cent increase in applications since it became an academy.
This September, the brand new King Solomon Academy, which has just received an outstanding Ofsted report, will also welcome its first Year 7 pupils and is set to grow each year, until there are classes for children from nursery age right through to sixth form.
Westminster has high ambitions for its young people and initiatives such as Education Commission that will improve the life chances of children should be supported.
CLLR SARAH RICHARDSON
Cabinet Member for Children’s Services
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