Exclusive: Thriving schools to close to make room for academies
I prepared a report about 18 months ago which made the case that small schools were sustained in rural areas not by the density of population but by the dynamism of the parents whose children went to them. On the face of it this report suggests that an unintended consequence of foundation school policy is likely to make legal status more important than quality or “parent power.”
This report relates to Bedford but I suspect it may reflect a deeper and wider challenge likely to impact on rural schools as well. It tells us: “Judged solely on its record, the case for keeping Harrowden Middle school open looks a no brainer.
The 480-pupil school for nine to 13-year-olds in Bedford which serves one of the most deprived wards in the country, has been rated as good with outstanding features in its latest report from Ofsted, the education standards watchdog. Its test results are improving with 91 per cent of 11-year-olds reaching the required standard in English and 83 per cent in maths. They have soared from 55 per cent and 53 per cent respectively six years. With 79 per cent of all pupils reaching the pass mark in both subjects, it is way in advance of the Government’s minimum target for schools of 60 per cent.
Yet it is facing closure in 2014 with heads claiming it exposes an unintended consequence of Education Secretary Michael Gove’s drive to create more independently-run academies. As a result, councils have fewer options when it comes to deciding which schools should close – they can only choose out of the ones they still control. Schools nearby include the brand new £22.5 million Bedford Academy – which has replaced a struggling comprehensive. Whilst it is said to be making “satisfactory” progress by Ofsted, its results are still lower than the national average, according to inspectors.”