Parents to have say on Hockley school's academy bid

10:43am Monday 17th March 2008

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PARENTS and students can have their say about the future of a school, which could become the first non-city academy in the country.

Consultation evenings will take place at Greensward College, in Hockley, to see if they should support the John Bramston School and the Rickstones School, both in Witham, with all three becoming academies on September 1, 2008.

This would be the first time the academy system has been used outside of a city and would give the school greater financial independence as it would have more funding control.

David Triggs, principal at Greensward College, said: "The increased levels of delegated funding will help us, and the two new proposed Witham academies, to provide world class learning for young people in our local communities.

"Reducing management costs will also strengthen our ability to direct resources to the greatest areas of need in each of the academies, as well as enabling us to recruit and retain the best teachers and education support staff."

If the proposals get the go-ahead, each academy will have its own governing body and Mr Triggs would become principal of Greensward Academy.

He would also become chief executive of the Academies Enterprise Trust, which will be headed by Lord Hanningfield, leader of Essex County Council.

Mr Triggs said: "These groundbreaking new proposals will see the new academies working closer than ever before with others to provide the best possible learning environments for today's young people."

The first meeting will be held in the main hall of Greensward College at 7.30pm on Monday, March 17. A second meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Thursday, March 27, at Westerings Primary School, in Hawkwell, for parents of children at feeder primary schools and the local community.