Unions raise Hove Park school academy fears

The head teacher of an ever-improving school boasting record exam results has rejected claims it is on the verge of becoming an academy.

Staff at Hove Park are set to meet at a specially organised union meeting tonight (Thursday March 13) to discuss rumours the school will apply for the special status.

This is despite Brighton and Hove City Council’s Green administration and unions being opposed to the move.

But in a statement issued to Latest TV, head teacher Derek Trimmer said: “Hove Park School is not, currently, in any formal consultation on academy.

“Like all schools at the moment, and as part of reviewing our direction and aims over the next three years, we are considering options regarding the school’s direction.”

Union representatives claim the school is considering applying for independent academy status, in conjunction with West Blatchington Primary school.

In response, Mr Trimmer said: “It is in the public domain that we are supporting West Blatchington Primary School and will continue to do so.”

Academies are independent, state-funded schools, which receive their funding directly from central government, rather than through a local authority.

They have more freedom than other state schools over their finances, curriculum, length of terms and school days and do not need to follow national pay and conditions for teachers.

Academies were originally a Labour policy designed to improve struggling schools, primarily in deprived areas.

But this has been changed radically by the current coalition government.

While some areas, such as West Sussex, have embraced the acceleration of the scheme, Brighton and Hove has largely rejected them.

Only two of the city’s ten secondary schools – Brighton Aldridge Community Academy and Portslade Aldridge Community Academy – have academy status.

A third – the King’s school in High Street, Portslade – is a free school.

Alex Knutsen, of Unison, said “virtually all” the Hove Park staff were expected at a meeting for Unison / NUT / NASUWT members tonight.

He added that a ballot would be taken place to see if those that work at the school supported the academy move.

Green councillor Sue Shanks, chairman of the council’s children and young people committee, said: “I’m aware of reports that Hove Park is considering academy status. If this is the case, we will do all we can to make sure that everyone is consulted fully, including staff, parents and the community.

“As Greens, we are opposed to academies because they lose democratic oversight and governance.

“They can have adverse knock-on effects on other schools – for example any increase in academies or free schools means less money to support our existing schools.

“Of course I hope they stay with the local authority.

“However regardless of what the school decides to do, we will seek a good working relationship to try and ensure the best for children, staff and the community –as we have done with the city’s existing free schools and academies.”