Lukewarm welcome for academies plan in Islington

Published: 02 July, 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

EDUCATION Minister Michael Gove’s academies plan has received a lukewarm reception in Islington with only three primary schools registering an interest – according to a government list published this week.

Not one secondary school registered an “interest” and of the three primaries whose names appear, at least one has changed its mind.

Islington councillors last week rejected Mr Gove’s invitation to schools to seek acad­emy status or for parents to set up free schools.

Pooles Park, Christ the King and St Peter and St Paul primaries are on the Department for Education’s list of schools interested in becoming an academy.

The latter two are rated outstanding and could be fast-tracked to academy status as early as September.

But Paul Campbell, headteacher of Christ the King School in Tollington Park, said governors have turned away from the idea, adding: “Our governors have decided NOT to proceed [with academy status], as the full implications, especially in regard to church schools, remain unclear at this time.”

Pooles Park governors chairman Mark Tinkler said: “We’ve shown an interest in not simply academy status but also trust and foundation ­status. We’re trying to ­ascertain the differences and benefits between these.”

He said the school was interested in controlling its own admissions, becoming the employers of their own staff and owning its own property.

Parents across the borough have already registered an interest in setting up a free school with government-funded charity New Schools Network.

But not everyone is enamoured by Mr Gove’s offer. Last month Yerbury Primary headteacher Mary Gibson told the Tribune her school would become an academy “over my dead body”.

Councillors at last week’s full council meeting approved schools chief councillor Richard Watts’s letter to Mr Gove saying local authorities should maintain a strong role in education.

St George’s ward Labour councillor Jessica Asato accused the coalition government of embarking on an “ideological gamble with our education”. 

She said: “Where Labour introduced academies to take over schools failing our most disadvantaged children, the government’s aim seems to be to allow schools at the top to gain ever more freedoms while leaving those at the ­bottom with no hope.

“I’ve read that actress Goldie Hawn’s foundation might be in line for taking over the education of our children. 

“Some cursory research shows that serious questions need to be asked about the educational evidence for her programme which seems to consist of improving education through breathing exercises.”