Campaigners call on the governors to withdraw academy plan and focus on education and learning.
When parents of students at Hove Park School first heard of the plans to turn it into an academy in April, 160 of them attended a public meeting, at which they voted unanimously against the proposals.
Then Brighton & Hove City Council passed a motion to oppose academies in principle. Today, 16th July, the school is closed because of a strike by teachers, who are overwhelmingly opposed to these proposals.
Students have voiced their opposition in a variety of imaginative ways, and now a parent ballot, organised by the local authority, in which nearly 600 parents voted, has returned a result of 71 per cent in opposition.
It’s clear that every section of those who will be affected by the proposed changes – parents, teachers, students and the Council, are decisively opposed to them.
We are told the final decision will be made at a meeting of the governors on 22nd September, but this will result in a further two months of instability in which students, parents, teachers and the local authority will face further uncertainty as to the direction of the school, which can only be damaging to students’ education and the school itself.
The parents and carers campaigning with Hands Off Hove Park School call upon the governors of the school to bring an end to this period of instability by stating immediately that the plans to turn Hove Park into an academy have been withdrawn. This, we believe, will mean that all concerned will be able to end the school year in the knowledge that the issue is at an end, and students and staff can look forward to a new school year with their focus on education and learning.
This would mean we can all work together in doing all we can to ensure the school achieves the best possible outcomes and results for those who attend it, which we are sure is what the governors and senior leadership team desire as much as anyone.
