Letter from WHS parent to Head Teacher

Reaction to the vote of conversion to Academy for Worthing High School.

I joined the parent forum as I am a parent of 5 children, 2 of which attend Worthing High school in years 10 and 8 and 3 younger ones all at local schools. I was unable to make the school meeting and wanted to find out about what conversion to an academy would actually mean for my children’s education.

We (the suspended parents forum) worked together effectively collating information and discussing both pro’s and con’s of the proposed move to Academy status. Our objectives in our terms of reference were agreed with the school:

·         Creates an additional open forum with parents/carers to establish an additional way to canvas opinions and facilitate and encourage parent voice.

·         Improves communication and liaison between Worthing High School and parent/carer

·         Enables parental engagement in development of our school.

·         Enhances parental engagement in developing future plans for the school including what, why and who.

·         Helps to create a shared vision for the future development of our school.

·         Enhances the transition process for parents both upon joining and leaving the school.

·         Acts as a consultation group to communicate between parents/carers and the school.

·         Reports and makes recommendations to the school Governing Body.

Ultimately our aim is to access and provide information for parents to enable them to make an informed decision.

There was a leak of some sensitive information to the press to from a parent who attended a one off meeting, they were not a regular forum member. We were then suspended as a result of the information leak. This means the forum (the voice of parents, children and locals) is currently unable to make contact with parents/carers through the website or by any other means, making us redundant to the process and unable to share information with the people we are representing. We were basically shut down and unjustly treated even having our correspondence censored/ edited (beyond recognition on occasions) before being sent to parents and governors.

Initially our main concern was the speed at which this was moving and the lack of open dialogue which is what I believed a consultation to be!

I have spoken to other head teachers in the area who are looking at information regarding Academy status, but they believe it would be foolish to go it alone and be the first. Why rush the process when they believe it is not necessary at this point in time. The move is being rushed through and we do not feel a proper consultation has taken place, except maybe between Mrs Beer (head teacher) and the Governors.

We also found that an alarming majority of teaching staff are against the conversion to Academy status. From all the parties involved there is a lack of confidence in the reliability of the leadership of the school acting in a trustworthy responsive manner. At this point in time I believe it would be wrong to change to an Academy status for all, but foremost our children and their teachers.

Corianda Sweetman  (frustrated) Suspended Parent Forum member.