Let parents decide

• THE news that William Tyndale School is re-consulting on whether to convert into an academy means there is no excuse for the school not to ballot parents about whether they should break away from the local authority (A victory for parent power, July 15).

At the last council meeting, all councillors voted unanimously that any school thinking about converting into an academy should ballot parents first. 

It is clear William Tyndale’s parents are split on whether the school should convert or not. The consultation so far has been rushed and divisive. Academies are independent schools 

that carry a great deal of risk and will only succeed if they have the strong support of parents, staff and the wider community.  Holding a ballot of parents will mean William Tyndale, or any other school seeking to become an academy, can either be confident they enjoy this support or understand the need to abandon the irreversible process of conversion before it is too late.

Results at Islington schools get better and better each year, and this year is no exception, with our best results ever for 11-year-olds.

I believe our schools will continue to improve fastest by working together not going it alone. Parents are the experts on their own child’s education and so William Tyndale must now give parents the key say on the future of the school.

CLLR RICHARD WATTS
Labour executive member for children and families 

Published: 22 July, 2011