School wants to make the switch to be academy (From The Argus)

Tideway School wants to make the switch to be academy

7:10pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in News By Peter Truman

A school has launched a bid to convert into an academy.

Tideway School in Newhaven is looking to become independent from the local authority and has launched a consultation after its governing body voted to pursue the possibility of switching.

The school said there were currently four groups who had expressed an interest in joining forces with the school.

Headteacher Rob Corbett confirmed none of those interested were of a faith background and he did not see the change affecting admissions to the school.

He said: “We think a group of academies will offer us the support we need to get better and continue improving.

“There is a lot of research around academy groups and how they offer more value than local authorities and we feel the time is right to explore other options.”

A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said: “We do not have a preferred view regarding the legal status of schools.

Sponsorship

“Instead we believe each proposal should be carefully considered in its own right and decisions should be based on assessments about the impact on the quality of education offered to the students, both at that school and more widely within East Sussex.

“Where schools do decide on academy status, we work with them to identify and encourage high quality sponsors.”

The school held a meeting on Tuesday and will continue the consultation until Friday, February 8.

Education minister Michael Gove had criticised East Sussex County Council in a letter for being a “barrier” for improving primary schools in the county.

He had outlined his plans to turn any failing school into an academy.

See the latest news headlines from The Argus:

• Union announces further strike action after negotiation talks crumble
• Looking back: Budgie not just a pretty boy then!
• Union’s anger at frontline care plans in West Sussex
• Huge shingle moving operation to improve coastal defence in Shoreham and Lancing
• Sussex anti-frackers in tea party protest

More news from The Argus

Follow @brightonargus

Like us on Facebook

 Add us to your circles on Google+