Change language
Actions
Displays
Remove from selection
Add to selection
Abstract

The headteacher of a special school which is to become to an academy has insisted the move is in its best interests, despite overwhelming ­opposition from staff.

As revealed in the Tribune last week, governors from The Bridge School voted to become part of a Multi-Academy Trust after a tense meeting. In a secret ballot in May, 119 teachers and teaching assistants ­voted against the plan and just one person voted in favour.


But executive headteacher Dr Penny Barratt said the switch would bring benefits to The Bridge, which has a ­primary and a secondary school, both shared with other school sites, in Holloway.

“Resources are crucial for the education we offer,” Dr Barratt said. “Capital funding [only currently available to academies] would allow us to update some very tired ­specialist equipment.”

She added that the school, rated “outstanding” by Ofsted, is facing year-on-year budget cuts and said the revenue gained from converting would prevent redundancies.

Becoming an academy would also allow the school more control over its curriculum, Dr Barratt said.

She added: “There was a time when special schools were expected to teach set curricular ­materials. Becoming an academy allows us the freedom to continue to do what we know is right for our pupils, even if there is a return to a prescriptive curriculum.”

In consultation documents, the school has argued that there is a “pressing need for an increased number of special school places for pupils with autism”.

It adds that breaking free from Town Hall control will allow “opportunities for cost savings on non-teaching and learning issues” and “greater investment in teaching and learning”.

Islington National Union of Teachers (NUT) representative Paul Atkin told the Tribune last night (Thursday) that they still hoped to persuade the governors to change their minds.

“The application will go off to the secretary of state for education and then come back to the governors for approval. Our position is still that we want them to change their minds,” he said.

Mr Atkin said there were still many questions about pension schemes, terms and conditions and union recognition still to be answered. Unions and school management will meet in September to hammer out further details.

Meanwhile, the secretary of Islington UNISON, Jane Doolan, told the Tribune they are seeking legal advice over “grave concerns” about the future of members’ pension schemes.

Ms Doolan added: “Islington UNISON is very disappointed that a meeting of school governors took the decision to apply for Academy status. UNISON and NUT members lobbied the governors. The unions have met with the headteacher and a school governor to raise our concerns and we will continue to highlight those concerns throughout the summer.”

Town Hall education chief Joe Caluori told the Tribune last week he was “really disappointed” in the governors’ decision but stressed that The Bridge would remain an important part of Islington’s “community of schools”.