A PRIMARY school has unanimously rejected plans to become an academy over the potential ‘upheaval’ it could create for children and staff.
The governing body of Tower View Primary School, in Vancouver Drive, Winshill, said it could not ‘take the risk’ of threatening the school’s stability following its recently satisfactory progress since dropping into special measures.
In January the Governing Body met to consider an offer from the Department of Education to change the status of the school to a sponsored academy. At that meeting it was decided to embark on an extensive consultation process with parents, staff and the local community before making a decision.
It met again on Monday to make its decision. Given the strength of feeling among the parents, staff and school community it said the only option was to decide against becoming an academy and the Governors voted unanimously to reject the proposal.
The Governors stated that to become a sponsored academy at this point in the school’s progress would ‘threaten its stability’ that has recently been established under the leadership of head teacher Andrew Ridout.
The reaction to the prospect of becoming a sponsored academy was illustrated by a wide range of parental responses during the consultation process, with one parents saying: “The school has improved greatly in recent times; the last thing parents and children need is further disruption.”
Gavin Holden, Chair of Governors, said: “As a Governing Body, we have always sought to act in the very best interests of the children who attend Tower View.
“We were moved by the strength of feeling among parents against becoming a sponsored academy and felt that we could not take the risk of a change in the school’s status and all of the potential instability and upheaval that could result from such a decision.
“The Governing Body and the school’s sole focus remains on driving up standards and supporting the staff in their work to deliver the very best for pupils.”
