Academy idea is the right one '“ but not run by dictators like Woodard

I attended the meeting at Littlehampton Community School (LCS) on March 13, and while I understand that the academy is the only route available, I could not believe how that was being planned for LCS.

Firstly, what was supposed to be an unbiased meeting was chaired by a lady who clearly had an interest in pushing the changes through, having been appointed by Woodard and West Sussex County Council to project manage the academy programme for LCS and Boundstone College, Lancing.

While I agree the academy is the quickest and most desirable route for LCS, I find it unacceptable that a sponsor such as Woodard should just walk in, throw in what today is a small amount, 1m, and tell us they will be running the show. Here are my main worries:

1/ we have a very good and hard-working board of governors who, along with our head teacher over the last five years have made many improvements to LCS.

The first people to get the chop by Woodard is the chairman and vice-chairman, who serve the community for no fee, giving their time, and with many years' experience of working in education.

2/ having read the academy papers, it looks like a new head is normally appointed at the start of the academy. This cannot be right, and was confirmed to me by the representative sitting on our table at the meeting.

Every table had one such person to ward off any embarrassing questions.

Only their planted staff were allowed to ask questions selected from the people on each table.

3/ Although I did get one question in myself, generally they did not take questions from the floor and certainly seemed to rush to close the meeting long before many of us had finished.

4/ It certainly looks to me as if West Sussex is giving away the family silver.

Woodard told us more than 50 per cent of the new board of governors would be their people.

We need people from this area, such as the governors we already have, not a bunch of strangers from elsewhere who know nothing about our town.

I urge LCS and West Sussex to look in other directions. As most of the 30m investment is coming from our taxes, we need an academy and need it now, but not run by "dictators" who know nothing about Littlehampton.

Mike Matthews, Bushby Avenue, Rustington

-----------------------------

Click here to return to Gazette letters.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Gazette: [email protected]