Fury at imposition of academy sponsor for Moulsecoomb school

The Government’s Regional Schools Commissioner has told the school’s governors and Brighton and Hove City Council that the New Horizons Academy Trust (NHAT) has been selected.

Parents, unions and the council have all expressed anger and disappointment at the decision.

In a recent ballot, 96 per cent of parents and carers who took part said they were against their school becoming an academy.

Kate Knight is vice chair of the council’s children, young people and skills committee, and also represents Moulsecoomb as a ward councillor.

She said: “I am furious, but not surprised, that the government is ignoring the wishes of the school’s parents, governors and dedicated staff in such a blatant way.

“They have decided to push ahead with their academy plan in the face of overwhelming cross-party local opposition.

“The result of our ballot couldn’t have been clearer – local people want their school to stay locally and democratically accountable.

“We have specific concerns about the academy trust the commissioner has chosen.

“NHAT has no track record of positive whole school improvement on this scale – quite the reverse, in fact.

“It has had two converter academies, one of which was later handed over, by the Regional Schools Commissioner, to another academy chain due to concerns about the management of the school.