4:43pm Monday 23rd November 2009
By Fran Bardsley
THE headteacher of Oxford School believes parents and pupils will soon be able to make up their minds about it becoming an academy.
Associate head Maurice Dixon has spoken for the first time about the proposal to turn his school into an academy for four- to 19- year-olds after the Government gave the go-ahead for a feasibility study and consultation.
He believed the study would give parents the details they needed about the proposed academy.
Mr Dixon said: “It will be good to see the detail of what exactly is being proposed so staff, parents, students, and the wider community, will be able to weigh that information and make an informed response to it.
“Given this has been a time of uncertainty, it will be helpful for everybody.
“I want to read the proposal in depth and come to an informed judgement for myself as to whether it is in the best interests of the school.”
Oxfordshire County Council, which is developing the proposals alongside sponsors the United Learning Trust (ULT) has promised “full and extensive” consultation on the controversial scheme, which would be called the City of Oxford Academy.
Council spokesman Paul Smith said: “It will, of course, be open to anyone responding to the consultation to suggest viable alternative solutions to securing long-term sustainable improvements to outcomes for the young people of East Oxford and Cowley.”
Last night, governors and the National Union of Teachers said it was important for people to realise nothing was set in stone.
Chairman of governors Larry Sanders said: “Some people will think it is a done deal – but it isn’t. It is the beginning of the process.
“The governors have not made a decision on whether we think the academy proposal is good or bad, but we have raised a lot of concerns which we hope will be answered one way or another.”
The news comes a few weeks after the Government raised concerns about achievement by other ULT academies and said the organisation could not start on any new projects other than two already being worked up, including Oxford School.
Parent governor Anna Thorne, who has two children at the school and opposes the academy, was disappointed the study and consultation were going ahead.
She said: “We have to make the most of this consultation and ensure as many people as possible get a full picture of what the options are.
“When parents have had an opportunity to really look at all the options I believe they will feel a ULT academy is not a good option for Oxford School.”
Oxfordshire NUT president Gawain Little said: “We don’t believe an academy is the right decision.”
But he added: “The most important thing is what parents actually want because at the end of the day, it’s their school.”
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