At a time when we are sending our young servicemen and women to Iraq and Afghanistan to kindle or support democracy, or perhaps to die there, it might be a good moment for us to consider how healthy democracy is here in Sussex.

It is very likely that in the coming months decisions will be taken to hand over three of the largest secondary schools on the Sussex coast, to the Woodard Corporation, an organisation normally associated in Sussex with private schools such as Lancing College.

The state schools involved are Shoreham and Southwick's King's Manor Community College, Lancing and Sompting's Boundstone Community College, and Littlehampton Community School.

Since their establishment two generations ago these schools, whose buildings, maintenance and running costs have been paid for by the taxpayers of their communities, have been in the ownership of the democratically elected local education authority. The same schools have been run by governors, mostly local councillors, but also parents and some teachers, all elected in one way or another. The schools have therefore been democratically run and democratically accountable.

The Woodard Corporation, whatever its virtues may be, is in no way a democratic organisation. The schools would pass, if present proposals are implemented, from public to private ownership and accountability, and the people of Sussex would lose control of their schools.

The schools, like all entirely state schools, are secular schools with no particular religious affiliation.

Indeed, many will agree that in an area with exceptionally low church attendance - 3.9 per cent - any religious affiliation would be inappropriate.

The Woodard Foundation, out of which the corporation grew, was created in Victorian times with profoundly religious purposes.

What then of parental choice if these proposals go through? It is not clear what, if anything, Woodard would pay for these tens of millions of pounds of public property.

Lord Adonis who drives the academies programme, has recently said that he would happily waive this sponsorship investment, as what he seeks is not the money but the DNA of organisations such as Woodard.

Once final decisions are made they will be irreversible, and local democracy and accountability will be permanently excluded. Schools must never be complacent and must always be seeking ways to improve.

But can it really be possible that the best way to improve the West Sussex coastal strip schools in 2007 is by handing them over to the Woodard Corporation?

  • Stephen Lowe, former headmaster, Boundstone Community College (1970-94)