My doubts over school’s bid to change status

I AM the parent of a pupil at Prince Henry’s School in Otley, and have concerns about its proposal to become an academy.

I have looked at all the information on the website and don’t feel well enough informed to make a decision. These are some of the concerns that I have raised with the school. I feel that all parents should be made aware of the possible implications:

The process seems very rushed and there are financial incentives to encourage this. It seems the current Government is very keen for schools to become academies.

What will happen when there is political change? Is the process reversible – or are we stuck with it if it is not as good as we are lead to believe?

There is no guarantee the terms and conditions of staff will remain the same.

There is a lack of transparency about the process. What are the timescales? When is the parents’ consultation meeting to be held? What guarantees are there that objections will be given due weight?

Prince Henry’s is a community school; will the rest of the local population be consulted?

What will be the broader effects on local schools and the local authority’s education department (I believe they will have their funding reduced as more schools become academies)?

Why are we being encouraged to fragment the education system?

Will the school be able to find alternative ways to ensure trips overseas have insurance cover? If the school breaks from the education authority, they will not be able to access this service at a competitive rate.

Will they be continuing with the National Curriculum?

I am worried that attainment of academy status will result in too much power to the headteacher who may not receive the necessarily robust challenge from the governing body or lLocal authority.

I have read that there can be changes to the admissions policy in the future which could lead to selection. This is a community school and should be evolving to meet the needs of all pupils, now and in the future.

I understand that it will become easier to exclude pupils. Again, – this is a community school and should be able to meet the needs of all pupils; if not, it is failing its catchment area.

It seems the school is being pushed into making a political move that will bring short-term gains, but leaves the long-term future very uncertain.

I urge all parents to attend the consultation meeting on July 11, to have a say in their child’s and the local community’s future.