A HEADTEACHER has refuted speculation that her school is to become an academy.
Christine Spencer, head of Salendine Nook High School, said there were “no plans at the moment” for the school – which had the best local authority GCSE results in Kirklees last summer – to apply for Academy status.
Mrs Spencer said she was “really cross” about local “scaremongering” regarding the potential changes.
Speculation has been rife in the community about the possibility, with local councillors and unions suggesting the school, which has 1,350 students, may convert.
“Our governors attended a Kirklees Governors Association meeting on April 6 just to find out more about the proposals,’’ Mrs Spencer said.
“But they have given no indication whatsoever that that is where their plans lie. At the moment we haven’t even gone to the formal consultation stage.
“Until we know what the benefits are for the students, there is absolutely no decision being made.”
Last month both Shelley College and Moor End Technology College confirmed they were to become Academies this year – Moor End in May and Shelley in September.
Lindley Junior School also became the first primary school in the authority to confirm it was proceeding with the conversion process.
Academy schools are funded directly by central government and are independent of local government control.
They can also obtain money from outside groups including businesses, charities and religious groups.
They are free to set their own curriculum and terms and conditions for staff, which has led to concerns from teaching unions.
The academies programme was launched by the Labour government in 2000 but in May last year Education Secretary Michael Gove announced legislation to approve schools to become academies through a simplified streamlined process.
This new legislation has opened up the academies programme to all schools rated as outstanding by Government inspectors from Ofsted.
