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Caution as academy is put under spotlight

17/12/2007

AMBITIOUS plans to replace Accrington’s Moorhead Sports College with an academy got a cautios reception by members of the Lancashire Local Committee.

The scheme, unveiled earlier this year, involves transforming the school into an academy which would be independent from the local authority.

If the plans are passed, the school would be refurbished and the new academy would open in September 2008.

Subject to the Department for Children, Schools and Families approving the release of capital funding, it is expected that new or remodelled buildings would be complete by September 2011.

Accrington Academy would develop a curriculum based on the two major themes of business and enterprise and information and communication technology.

There have already been a number of consultation meetings with the public to ask for their views – and last Monday it was the turn of residents at the Lancashire Local meeting to have their say.

They were also encouraged to quiz Stuart Mercer of Lancashire County Council, who gave a presentation on the academy and what the plans would mean for Hyndburn.

Councillor Susan Shorrock asked Mr Mercer to give the meeting an update on how the public consultation had gone so far.

He said: "So far, we have had three meetings.

"At the first, 60 people came along, which was far fewer than we thought.

"At the second, there were about 40 which was also fewer than we thought."

If given the go-ahead, the new academy will be sponsored by charitable trust United Learning Trust (ULT), which has reassured the public that local children will be enrolled despite concerns that talented and privileged pupils would be given priority.

Mr Mercer said the trust had experience of running academies in other parts of the country, although none has so far opened in Lancashire.

County Councillor Dorothy Westell said: "We have some excellent schools in Hyndburn and we hope this academy will not detract from what they do. It is most important that everyone works together."

The council’s Cabinet will be meeting in December to consider the result of the consultation period and decide whether to officially take the proposals forward.