8:00am Wednesday 10th June 2009
PROPOSALS for three secondary schools to join forces under a university-run trust have been attacked by a union.
A six-week consultation began on June 8 on the plan to form a federation between Addey and Stanhope in New Cross Road, Deptford Green in Amersham Vale, and Crossways Academy in Sprules Road, Brockley.
The proposals would see the federation supported by the Goldsmiths Education Partnership, a trust run by Goldsmiths, University of London.
Lewisham Council says the three schools will remain state comprehensive schools while admissions criteria and the terms and conditions of staff contracts will not change.
But the Lewisham branch of the National Union of Teachers claims the council will lose control of the three schools.
Branch secretary Martin Powell-Davies said: “Staff have made clear they have concerns.
“The problem is summed up by who runs our schools.
“At the moment that’s the local authority and people can vote them out. You can’t do that with a trust.
“It will be down to Goldsmiths what happens in those schools - nobody can question them.”
He claims the council is “ideologically committed to giving away its schools” having previously handed over control of other schools in the borough to The Leathersellers Company and the livery company, Haberdashers.
But Lewisham education boss Councillor Robert Massey said: “It’s not right to imply Goldsmiths would be interfering with them on a large scale.
“There are many successful schools in the borough already and actually many of them don’t operate on a classic local authority model.”
And head teacher of Addey and Stanhope Ann Potter, stressed the schools would retain their individual identities and be better for pupils.
She said: “We feel this will raise acheivement for all out students.
“I think parents would see more opportunities for their children to use the resources of a higher education institution.
“We want all our students to consider going on to universities.”
A public discussion of the proposal will be held at Goldsmiths on June 29 from 3pm to 8pm in the Great Hall, Richard Hoggart Building.
Copies of the proposal are available at lewisham.gov.uk or from the schools.
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