Fears of ‘bias’ during consultation on opt-out schools

Published: 20th May, 2011
by ANDREW JOHNSON

OPPONENTS of plans by primary schools to opt out of Town Hall control have condemned the consultation process this week as flawed and biased.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) is so concerned that it is considering a legal challenge to the process.

Their complaints come as a third primary school – William Tyndale in Upper Street – announced that it was to consult parents and governors on the controversial idea of being funded directly from Whitehall.

It joins Pooles Park in Lennox Road, Finsbury and New North Community School in St Peters who have declared their intention of becoming a “chain” – a connected group of independent schools.

Last week the Tribune reported how the Town Hall had warned schools that while they may win extra money from the government for going it alone, they would lose services supplied by the Town Hall such as free school meals.

This week it emerged that the private company organ­ising the consultation, called Strictly Education, also provide services to academies.

This has led to union claims that there is a conflict of interest. In addition there are concerns that the consultation is focussing only on parents of pupils currently at the schools involved, rather than wider sections of the community.

“Strictly Education is the private company that is running the consultation process,” said NUT spokesman Ken Muller. “But how connected are they to running academies? 

“They have already provided recruitment services to Islington schools. We think it’s wrong for them to be drawing up the report of the consultation when they are already providing services to schools. It’s a conflict of interests. We also think the consultation process is being rushed. We are taking legal advice.”

A parent of children at William Tyndale school, who asked not to be named, also voiced concerns about the process, claiming parents were being “blindsided”.

“We had a leaflet last week and there is a meeting for parents (today),” she said. “I’m not happy. At the moment if there’s a problem at the school you can go to the education welfare officer and complain and they will help you.

“You may be right or wrong, but at least it is sorted out. 

“Under an academy you have to complains to the Department for Education and that can take six or eight weeks to be sorted. 

“And all the time your child is unhappy at school. It’s not like going across the road and asking to see someone. A lot of parents are being blindsided. The literature says there will be a lot more money, but not that we’ll lose services."

St Peter’s Ward Labour councillor Gary Doolan said that he had been refused entry to a meeting at New North School because he was not a parent. 

“I’m the local councillor so I have an interest,” he said. “It was meant to be an open meeting. But the person at the desk said it was just for parents. 

“I didn’t want to cause a scene so I left. I’ve complained about the matter to (Town Hall education chief) Richard Watts. It seems that only parents are being asked about the changes. 

“The whole thing seems to be being hurried to me. There needs to be a lengthy debate, to discuss issues such as finances. We could end up being led down a blind alley.”

A spokeswoman for Strictly Education confirmed they were involved in the consultation process but no further comment was received at the time of the Tribune going to press.

But Mary McStay, the headteacher of New North Community School, vigorously defended the consultation process. 

“Strictly Education are completely impartial,” she said. “This is a very formal and professional process, as it should be. I feel as a school that it’s important when new opportunities arise to explore them fully. 

“But no decision has been made and any decision will be made by the governing body and only after everything has been looked at. 

“I’m surprised that Councillor Doolan says he couldn’t get into a meeting. We’ve had two open meetings at which the whole community was welcome and there was another councillor at one of them. 

“We have placed questionnaires and leaflets beyond the school – in health centres and libraries. I must stress we are in a period of consultation and it is inconclusive at present.”

The coalition government’s new academies are controversial because opponents believe it is a way of privatising education and the schools will lose out on vital services provided by the council such as free school meals. 

The schools would be funded directly from Whitehall and be in control of their own budgets. Supporters say this means they will receive more money as their budgets can’t be raided and they will have more power to adapt to local conditions. 

They also say the education of children and their role in the community won’t be affected.