Boys' school consults on academy switch (From Oxford Mail)

Boys' school consults on academy switch

10:20am Wednesday 25th January 2012 in News

PARENTS, pupils and staff are being consulted on a proposal to turn St Birinus School in Didcot into an academy.

The school’s ‘good’ rating from Ofsted inspectors has allowed school governors to consult on switching to academy status.

If the 1,240-pupil boys’ school does decide to become an academy, it will follow in the footsteps of five Oxfordshire schools. Fourteen more conversions are set to go through the system in coming months.

Moving away from local authority control would give St Birinus in Mereland Road greater financial freedom and a boost of about £250,000 in the first financial year.

Headteacher Alwyn Richards said: “The consultation will finish towards the end of February and we will listen to every viewpoint, but ultimately this is a decision for the governors.”

Chairman of governors Chris Turton said they would not be taking any “definitive decisions” until the end of the consultation.

A meeting about the plans is being held at the school on February 8, at 5pm.