A COUNCILLOR has denied claims Bromley Council was instructed by the government to work with the Harris Federation as an academy sponsor for Kelsey Park Sport College.

At a meeting with parents last week, sponsor of the federation Lord Harris of Peckham said both the former Labour and current Conservative secretaries of state for education wanted Harris to sponsor Kelsey.

Lord Harris met with Bromley last year to discuss sponsoring the school in Manor Way, Beckenham, but talks stalled as the council wished to remain as a co-sponsor.

Bromley’s portfolio holder for children and young people Councillor Ernest Noad said: “At no point has the current or previous Secretary of State directed the local authority to work with the Harris Federation as a sponsor partner for academy conversion for Kelsey Park Sports College, although both have expressed their view that the Harris Federation would make a suitable partner.”

Governors at Kelsey have launched a consultation over the school’s future with the results expected in December.

Cllr Noad said: “The governors at Kelsey Park Sports College, with the full support of the local authority, want to look at all the options available to them and take into consideration the views of everyone with an interest in the future of the school.

“That’s why they have launched a wide-ranging consultation on the next stage of development of the school.”

He added: “As a Foundation Status School, the decision to convert to an academy and to select a sponsor lies with the governing body of Kelsey Park and they will consider all potential partners.

“Earlier in the year, the former Department for Children, Schools and Families published a list of eleven accredited schools’ groups for academies which will be considered as potential sponsor partners.”

Campaign group Harris Into Beckenham, which wanted Kelsey to become a Harris academy, has organised a petition of around 1,000 signatures demanding a Harris free school is opened in Beckenham.

The Harris-backed application has been sent to the Department for Education (DfE).

At the meeting organised by the group, Harris chief executive Dr Daniel Moynihan said free school plans for Beckenham were moving ahead “very forcefully”.

But Cllr Noad would not speculate on the implications for other schools in the area, were a free school to open.

He said: “On the question of a Harris free school, until the application to DfE for a free school has progressed further, it is too soon to speculate on the implications for other schools in the area.

“Applications for free schools can be made in response to parental demand.

“As the local authority, our concerns will always be for the education of every child in the borough, ensuring that all children have the chance to fulfil their potential, no matter their background or ability.”

Parents can respond to the consultation over Kelsey’s future here