Council committee back Kunskapsskolan academies at Whitton School and Hampton Community College (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Council committee back Kunskapsskolan academies at Whitton School and Hampton Community College

11:00am Thursday 19th November 2009

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Controversial plans to turn two schools into academies run by a Swedish education firm look certain to go ahead after a key commitee backed the idea.

The council committee recommended that Hampton Community College (HCC) and Whitton School be replaced by academies - independent, all-ability schools - run by Kunskapsskolan.

The final decision will be made by Richmond Council’s executive on December 14, with the schools changing to their new status on September 1 next year.

The children’s service and culture overview and scrutiny committee backed the decision to turn Whitton into an academy almost unanimously on Monday - with only Councillor David Marlow, deputy leader of Richmond Conservatives, abstaining.

Coun Bill Treble, who represents Heathfield ward and has the school on his patch, said any improvement was welcome and Coun Gareth Evans said the investment needed at Whitton meant it was a good move.

But controversy raged over the move to turn HCC into an academy, with residents and councillors concerned about a lack of choice if two schools in the west of the borough were handed over to the same firm, whose methods were questioned by some speakers and councillors.

Ray Alen, chairman of the Hampton Society, said a decision to hand the school to Kunskapsskolan would affect education in the area for years to come.

“If there is any doubt it is better to draw back and think again even if it means a delay to building improvements,” he added.

“The school is improving and will continue to improve.”

Coun Marlow said: “HCC does not require the kind of investment Whitton does, there is no requirement for a rebuild.

“I think it would be best if HCC were excluded from the academies programme.”

Nick Whitfield, Richmond Council’s director of children’s services and culture, told the committee he would like to see a Catholic academy set up in the borough and sixth form provision in all schools.

He said: “I won’t deny there [would be] a reduction in choice in that part of the borough but the communities are quite different.

“We have two underperforming community schools, that doesn’t make people think they have a choice “If we work and make these schools successful you will find people in other parts of the borough will try to get in.

“I believe there will be over subscription in the end and that will provide choice in the borough.

“There has been an 18.5 per cent increase in parents applying to HCC from Richmond parents this year.”

Coun Jerry Elloy added: “This is an opportunity to make a real change.”

The recommendation was backed by seven votes to four.

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