Academy proposal to be investigated

7:35pm Tuesday 15th January 2008

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Bradford Council's executive has backed plans to launch a consultation programme to assess whether an inner-city school should be turned into an academy.

In October, Dixons Academy expressed an interest in sponsoring Rhodesway School in Allerton.

Dixons' chiefs stepped into the shoes of the British Edutrust, which had earmarked Rhodesway for academy sponsorship in 2006 before pulling out.

At a meeting of the Council's executive this afternoon, councillors gave the green light for a feasibility programme to begin, which will include consultation on the proposed closure of the Oaks Lane school.

However, before the meeting began, a petition was handed in to Council bosses, signed by more than 100 Rhodesway staff members calling for the school to remain under local authority control.

Teaching staff also staged a protest outside City Hall as debate over their school's fate continued inside.

Speaking at the meeting, Kath Tunstall, the Council's strategic director for children's services, said she recognised staff were in a "difficult situation".

She said: "Last time the conclusion by all parties was it was not the appropriate way forward. This is a different set of circumstances with a recognised organisation in Dixons."

Councillor Colin Gill, the Council's executive member for children's services, said: "What this is about is delivering the best educational solution that we can for the children in the area of the district.

"It would be a foolish way of progressing if we had simply allowed what took place last year to end and that was it, especially when you have this wonderful offer. We should hopefully come to a consensus at the end of this."

Council leader Kris Hopkins said: "Our aspirations are for the children of Rhodesway to reach the same levels those at Dixons have. To have such a well-established partner delivering support to Rhodesway is excellent and would compliment the work going on in the school."

A statement released on behalf of the 105 Rhodesway staff who signed the petition said: "Between 2000 and 2005 the school went through five heads of school. One can only wonder at what Bradford Council and Education Bradford were doing at this time, or where the sponsors were at the most difficult times.

"Now the school is improving, results are better than ever and staff turnover is at its lowest. So why is everyone suddenly interested in taking over the school?

"The Government's initial rationale for academies was they should replace failing schools. For the last two years this has not been the case at Rhodesway.

"Rhodesway merely wants stability, not more change."