Parents Need A Say Over Otley Academy. (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Parents Need A Say Over Otley Academy.

November 15, 2011 10:02 PM

Cllr Colin Campbell (Liberal Democrat, Otley & Yeadon) is calling for a delay in the proposals to turn Prince Henry's Grammar School into an Academy in order to allow parents to have their say on the change.

Local Councillors and residents have raised serious concerns over the divisive way the governors of the school are pursuing their proposals. They feel that they have not consulted the community, and in particular ignored parents.

Cllrs Campbell, Downes and Kirkland (Lib Dem, Otley & Yeadon) have written to Michael Gove MP, the Secretary of State for Education asking him to put the plans on hold to ensure that there is an opportunity for parents to be balloted on the proposals.

The initial decision to investigate the process was taken on the casting vote of the Chair of Governors. On the vote of the Chair it was decided not to ask the parents their views via a ballot and the final decision was made by only half the governors, the other half subsequently resigned in protest.

Within the wider community there is opposition to the proposals and local Councillors and residents alike feel that there is no general support for these proposals.

Cllr Campbell said:

"Understandably parents are worried about what these proposals will do to their children's' school, and we are worried that a school which is founded on mutual distrust cannot prosper."