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Abstract

Parents and teachers are fighting plans to convert a small group of schools for special needs children into an academy trust.

The Bridge London, which runs an Islington Council-maintained primary school in Holloway and a secondary school in Tufnell Park – both rated “outstanding” – has been consulting parents and teachers over plans to form a “multi-academy trust”.

Last year, it opened a free school, The Bridge Integrated Learning Space, for 25 pupils. All 180 pupils at the schools have severe learning difficulties or autism.

Managers have recently applied to the Department for Education to open a small number of “resource bases” close to other mainstream schools to provide for pupils with autism who are not able to access mainstream education but would benefit from close contact with peers in those schools.

The Bridge wants all its facilities to become part of a new, autonomous trust free from Town Hall control to allow “opportunities for cost savings on non-teaching and learning issues” and “greater investment in teaching and learning”.

In a consultation document, the school said: “There is a pressing need for an increased number of special school places for pupils with autism.”

However, some parents, all but one teacher and the Town Hall oppose the move. Teachers are said to be considering strike action.

Ndaka Gono, 40, from Crouch Hill, whose three children have autism and attend the primary and secondary schools, said she was worried about the plans.

“It’s a special needs school and I don’t think we are in a position to run alone,” she said. “Why do we have to do it?

“We are worried about [what will happen to] the teachers.”

The school previously attempted a conversion in 2012, but after a campaign by teachers and parents, governors voted against it.

Paul Atkin, of Islington National Union of Teachers, said the grouping of schools was likely to be too small and therefore not in line with the government’s view of multi-academy trusts. “If they were to establish this it would rapidly be absorbed by something bigger and that’s completely unpredictable,” he said.

Islington education chief Councillor Joe Caluori said: “We don’t support them becoming a multi-academy trust. I don’t think the case has been made around how pupils would benefit from it.

“Given that they’re already a successful school, and the disruption involved in becoming a trust, setting up new legal and financial structures, I don’t see what the benefit is. I’m listening, but that case has not been made.”

In a survey last week, 119 members of staff voted against becoming an academy with only one voting in favour.

Executive headteacher Penny Barratt said: “We are continuing with the consultation as we are looking at what structure would best allow us to meet the needs of our pupils. Governors will take all views into account when they take their decision.”

This is expected to be made in June.