Councillors vote to ballot parents over Hove Park School academy proposal

A Brighton and Hove City Council committee has voted to ballot Hove Park parents over the possibility of the school converting to an academy.

The Children and Young People Committee debated the issue at Hove Town Hall this afternoon (Monday 2 June).

Councillors were greeted by protesters from Hands Off Hove Park who oppose the school becoming an academy.

The debate came as Peter Kyle, the Labour parliamentary candidate for Hove, urged politicians and people outside the community to let parents and governors debate the matter without outside pressure.

A report to councillors this afternoon recommended that “the committee consider the chair of the Children and Young People’s Committee’s request that as part of the consultation process the council should administer a ballot asking parents whether they agree with the governing body’s proposal that Hove Park School should convert to academy status”.

The report said: “It is proposed that all parents of pupils currently attending the school together with parents of those pupils offered places for September 2014 should be invited to take part in the ballot.

“That the committee agree to the council undertaking a parent ballot.

“That the ballot be in paper form including a short covering letter to parents.

“It is proposed that the ballot asks one simple question: ‘Do you agree that Hove Park Secondary School should convert to become an academy – Yes or No?’

“It is proposed that the ballot is circulated via the school with a pre-paid envelope provided by the council for parents to return their response to the council who will analyse and communicate the results.

“Reference to the ballot will be referred to on the council website.”

The school said that it would not be balloting parents as part of its consultation process.

It held meetings with pupils and parents of pupils and prospective pupils.

Labour candidate Mr Kyle is also the chairman of the board of governors at the Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA).

He said: “Communities need space to air arguments and consider the views of local experts on these issues.

“Since this announcement I have been desperately keen to avoid politicising the already tough position that the Hove Park community is making.

“I have been shocked by politicians who are not parents of children at Hove Park, are not educational experts and do not even live within the constituency let alone the community coming here and telling parents what is best for their children before a consultation has even begun.

“I refuse to do the same.

“There are over 3,000 parents of children who go to Hove Park School and all of them have the right to be heard in a structured and rigorous way.

“I urge people from outside that community to respect their need for calm inquiry, consideration and discussion with their school governing board and management team.

“It is this direct link – between school and parents – that is essential and I hope every parent will seize the opportunity to be heard.”