Dear Tim Loughton
I am protesting in the strongest possible terms about the proposal to make Worthing High School an Academy. You have stated that you have received no opposition to this measure. Well, you have now! There is a petition that has gathered over 450 signatures in a short space of time which should go some way to showing that there is strong local opposition to the scheme.
Similarly, there is no proof that becoming an Academy will benefit the local children academically; no other Worthing schools are currently academies and the nearest one that has become an Academy is Sir Robert Woodard in Lancing. This academy has recently been put in Ofsted special measures, three years after becoming an academy. By any measure, this is not good for local children.
In addition, regarding teacher's pay and conditions; the proposals cite freedom from national agreements as a benefit of conversion and yet the head has moved to assure staff that these will not be changed. If there is no intention to change these why is it a key factor in the decision to convert? I'm sure you would agree that any instability in this area undermines the teachers, affects morale and impacts badly on the pupils.
Meanwhile, the point about enabling Worthing High School to be finacially better off if they convert to Academy status is clearly nonsense. The amount of money retained by the local authority for services rendered is a minuscule proportion of the school's overall budget. Inevitably, this saving will have to be reinvested to replace those services no longer provided by the local authority.
Please ask yourself this question and answer it honestly. Who has the greater buying power? The Local Authority with more than 250 maintained schools, and established infrastructure or Worthing High's governing body, inexperienced in such matters and in an undeveloped and uncharted market? It is claimed “collaboration” with other local schools will help. Which schools? No other Worthing school has applied for Academy status. In any business model, it is accepted that mistakes will be made in the early stages. I do not want to see expensive mistakes made with local children's education.
Also, I found the following quote:
“The Government is clear that becoming an academy should not bring about a financial advantage or disadvantage to a school.”
Source: Department for Education, Feb 2012
So by your own admission, saying that the school will be financially better off is impossible.
I know that you are bound to vote with the Government, however misguided they are, but I should like to point out that you are supposed to work for the people of Worthing who you currently represent and would beg you to search your conscience about this matter. Can you honestly say that you would be happy for any children that you have to attend a school under these measures? As a parent myself, I know that you would want the best for your child and this is a long way from being the best for any Worthing child.
Please, please think again and never again say that you have not received any opposition to this silly proposal
Yours sincerely
REBECCA SIMMONS
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