Holland Park School

Jane Eades's picture
 4
Yesterday I joined a small demonstration outside the Holland Park School. The Governors were meeting to discuss becoming an academy on the same day that we hear of the financial mess the academy programme is in.

To judge by the response of people walking by, this is a very unpopular move but, typically, there has been virtually no consultation, just a letter to parents.

A group of students have set up a site and are running a petition:

It would be a tragedy if this school, which was a beacon for comprehensive education at its best, now became a beacon for a fragmented, damaged state education system
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Comments

Nathan Akehurst's picture
Fri, 17/06/2011 - 16:43

I'm a student (well, was, my last day was today) and running the student campaign and petition.

I am very concerned at the lack of consultation on the issue, and attempts from the borough council on down to force the idea upon people, presenting a highly one-sided argument.

We continue to call for a full ballot of staff, students and parents in the next academic year on the matter. As one of London's flagship comprehensives with a unique reputation, I cannot underestimate how important a step this is with regards to the Education Secretary's dangerous 'reform' programme.

Fiona Millar's picture
Fri, 17/06/2011 - 17:47

Excellent - good for you. It is great to see that students are asking for their voices to be heard in these consultations, especially as you are the real consumers , more so than the parents. I hope you will keep us posted on developments. Do please register and post on your campaign , and encourage others to do likewise. We would also be interested in hearing the school's reaction.


Melissa Benn's picture
Thu, 23/06/2011 - 08:07

Yes - it is inspiring to see students uphold such an important democratic right. It is a disgrace that schools are being asked to change status at such short notice - and yet the implications of the change are so huge.
It is also depressing to see - as we have done on this site - how divisive the government policy is proving. It pits parent against parent, educator against educator and in a context of shrinking resources.
This makes it all the more important that those of us who hold to a different vision of state education keep articulating the basic principles at stake. Democratic accountability is one of them.

Allan Beavis's picture
Mon, 27/06/2011 - 18:34

I just came across this report in the Guardian about the school's conversion to Academy Status - http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/jun/27/holland-park-comprehensive-academy-status?CMP=twt_fd


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