"I READ with sadness, and yet with that hollow feeling of inevitability, the decision of the board of governors of Worthing High School to proceed with an application for academy status.
It is quite clear that this decision had already been taken some time ago, and that the so-called consultation was merely a charade.
Why did the head or governors not wish to actually engage with those opposed to the plan despite several invitations to do so?
The list of objections to becoming an academy is so long that it could fill up the entire letters page, and yet not one of them was properly addressed by those who made the decision.
And those objections are not theoretical ones, but ones based on the previous experience of schools which have already become academies.
In announcing the result of the vote, which read more like a company CEO report rather than one from a head teacher, Alison Beer stated that “Now that we are able to move ahead with our application and will soon have a much clearer idea of our funding position, we will then be able to give details of our financial plans.
“There will be an annual financial report available to you so that you are able to feel fully informed regarding our financial position”.
So, if it wasn’t clear before, it is now – finances are the most important thing, and the school will become a fully-fledged “business”. So what happens if the school gets into difficulties, even if it is through no fault of its own through an unforeseen event, when there is no local authority backup?"
Its not a done deal yet, with enough protests and publicity to back up valid concerns we can get this turned around.
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