Academy plans put pressure on council

A HUMBER council is struggling to cope with the “unprecedented” number of its schools wanting to convert to academies.

Five schools in North East Lincolnshire are to become academies after being granted permission by the Department for Education, and four others are awaiting approval.

Humberston Maths and Computing College, Signhills Junior School, Cambridge Park School, Whitgift School and Humberston Park School have all been given the go-ahead to transfer from local authority control, while Hereford Technology School, Lisle Marsden Primary School, Scartho Junior School and Waltham Leas Primary School, have registered their interest in becoming academies and are awaiting approval.

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The Government introduced legislation in 2010 allowing all schools to convert to academies subject to approval by their governing bodies.

Supporters of academies say they allow schools to prosper because of their autonomy, but critics say they are less accountable should any problems arise.

Barbara Hughes, executive director of children and family services at North East Lincolnshire Council, said the large number of schools seeking academy status was placing a strain on the authority.

“The unprecedented number of schools considering conversion to an academy is certainly causing us workload problems as the local authority is required to undertake a substantial amount of work for each conversion,” she said.

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“We are, however, committed to supporting every school in this process and to enable them to do so as swiftly as possible within our current resources.”

Coun Ian Lindley, portfolio holder people services, added: “We understand why our schools will wish to take advantage of the opportunity to convert to an academy and we wish them well. I look forward to maintaining our existing good relationships with them in the future.”