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Protesters unhappy with academy proposals
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| Parents and governors claim they have been misled over plans for Axton Chase School |
HUNDREDS of parents, pupils and teachers have united against plans to turn their comprehensive school into an academy.
Kent County Council (KCC), the University of Kent and Leigh Technology Academy have created plans for an academy specialising in science and visual arts at Axton Chase School, Main Road, Longfield.
But parents and governors believe the three sponsors have misled them over details of the plans.
Parent Katrina Adams, 43, of Colney Road, Dartford, said: "When plans were first announced in February we were told academy status would bring funding for £25m new premises and a partnership with the nearby Leigh Academy.
"It wasn't until the end of April we were told Leigh's headteacher would run both schools."
This means Axton Chase's headteacher, Kevin Stokes, would lose overall responsibility for the school and have to re-apply for a position at the new academy.
Class sizes could also increase to 60 pupils, as this is a method used at Leigh.
Parents, pupils and teachers protested against the plans outside the school last Monday.
And more than 400 attended a consultation meeting at the school last Tuesday to voice their opposition to representatives from the sponsors.
A petition has also been set up calling for Axton Chase to become an academy in its own right with Mr Stokes in charge.
It has more than 300 signatures so far.
Parent Penny Wilsher, of Ridgeway, Darenth, has organised the petition.
She said: "We need new facilities, so we want to become an academy.
"But we want to keep the current headteacher, who has done an excellent job, and we don't want our children in classes of 60 pupils."
A consultation is being held this month to allow people to give their views of the plans to the
sponsors.
The sponsors will consider the feedback next month before submitting a final proposal to the Government at the end of the month.
If accepted, the school will become an academy in September and move to newly-built premises further along the road from the current site by 2011.
KCC leader Councillor Paul Carter said: "We are very much in listening mode and we are establishing, with parents and students, working groups to consider the response to the consultation.
"We will be presenting revised options at a further public meeting in June."
9:32am Tuesday 20th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Mwah, dartford on 3:22pm Tue 20 May 08
WE WANT STOKES TO STAY!!!!!
WE WANT STOKES TO STAY!!!!!
Posted by: Mwah, darford on 3:25pm Tue 20 May 08
STOKES TO STAY!!!
Posted by: you aint seen me, right?, dartford on 3:34pm Tue 20 May 08
We want Stokes too!!
Posted by: Mwah, dartford on 3:35pm Tue 20 May 08
KEEP STOKES!!!
Posted by: You aint seen me, right?, dartford on 3:38pm Tue 20 May 08
We don't want green....we want stokes!!
We don't want green....we want stokes!!
Posted by: Mwah, dartford on 3:41pm Tue 20 May 08
Green wont make it greener, Stokes to be kept!!
Green wont make it greener, Stokes to be kept!!
Posted by: Amy Lou Lou, year 8 on 6:21pm Tue 20 May 08
We like u as our head teacher. We want u to stay !
We like u as our head teacher. We want u to stay !
Posted by: DH, Dartford on 9:06pm Wed 21 May 08
It is disgusting the way staff and pupils have been informed over the new academy. All Axton Chase needs is some funding for a new building by KCC. Why do they need to make it into an academy with large classes which will result in a high turnover of staff which the Leigh is already experiencing. There will be no choice for parents in the Dartford area if Axton ends up like the Leigh (selective)!! Mr Stokes and his team of staff are fantastic and all they need is a new building and up todate equipment - surely that's not too much to ask in this day and age!! How come Meopham School are going to get a new building without becoming an academy!?
It is disgusting the way staff and pupils have been informed over the new academy. All Axton Chase needs is some funding for a new building by KCC. Why do they need to make it into an academy with large classes which will result in a high turnover of staff which the Leigh is already experiencing. There will be no choice for parents in the Dartford area if Axton ends up like the Leigh (selective)!! Mr Stokes and his team of staff are fantastic and all they need is a new building and up todate equipment - surely that's not too much to ask in this day and age!! How come Meopham School are going to get a new building without becoming an academy!?
Posted by: Bob, Longfield on 9:00pm Sat 7 Jun 08
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