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Mixed views on academy plans
THERE is "broad agreement" on plans to transform one of Bexley's existing secondary schools into an academy.
But the proposal has attracted some criticism from parents of current pupils at Westwood College, in The Green, it has been revealed.
Cabinet member for schools Councillor Simon Windle told last week's council meeting key support for the proposal has come from the Welling school's senior leadership team and its governors.
He said: "We needed to get them onboard."
An initial consultation
attracted 151 responses, with 81 (54 per cent) backing the plan and 59 (39 per cent) disagreeing.
The proposal to add a sixth form to the academy - Westwood currently only takes pupils to the age of 16 - was supported by 100 people (66 per cent) with 39 (26 per cent) opposing.
Cllr Windle said some parents had wanted a sixth form without an academy, but stated the two had to go together.
He said there had been claims from some parents they had been "conned" into applying for a place at Westwood because they had not been told there were plans to turn it into an academy.
But Cllr Windle said the academy idea had only been raised during a visit from schools minister Lord Adonis late last year, when Bexley had pointed out the poor state of the school buildings.
Cllr Windle said other parents were unhappy the size of the school would be expanded under the academy proposals.
They said they had specifically chosen Westwood because it was a small school with a community feel.
But Cllr Windle said even if the academy plan went through, Westwood would still be the smallest secondary school in the borough.
He added: "It would only expand from five forms of entry to six, with 180 students in each year group, which I would class as a reasonable size."
Cllr Windle accepted there would be disruption during building work, but he promised no existing member of staff would lose their job if the academy went ahead.
Problems of overcrowding on the B16 bus, which serves the school, are being taken up by cabinet member for transport Councillor Peter Craske.
The statutory notice to close the school, which would reopen the next day as an academy, is published today.
People have until June 3 to make comments and a recommendation will go to the June 17 cabinet meeting.
The new academy would be sponsored by the Harris Trust, an educational trust backed by Lord Harris of Peckham.
11:54am Tuesday 22nd April 2008
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CommentPosted by: Green Man, Welling on 7:16pm Thu 24 Apr 08
Completely riding roughshod over any residents views of course.
WE all want a school double the size on the site (not). At the engquiry they said, you can, er have your say after we've given it the go-ahead.
Brilliant.
More traffic, more mess and no doubt buses the full length of the Green before long.
Completely riding roughshod over any residents views of course.
WE all want a school double the size on the site (not). At the engquiry they said, you can, er have your say after we've given it the go-ahead.
Brilliant.
More traffic, more mess and no doubt buses the full length of the Green before long.
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