Four Medway secondary schools interested in becoming academies

Eight Medway schools have registered their interest with the Department for Education in becoming academies.

Four of the schools which have responded to the Education Secretary Michael Gove’s invitation, which was sent to well over 1,000 schools in the country immediately after the coalition was formed, are secondary schools.

The Department for Education were responding to a Freedom of Information request, listing all those who have expressed an interest in becoming academies in two groups: those ruled outstanding by Ofsted, and those not.

If the eight schools do become academies, they will follow in the footsteps of the Strood Academy, which opened with some teething problems in September, the Brompton Academy and the Bishop of Rochester Academy, both from September 2010.

Lord Hill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools, stated that “I am delighted that so many schools have expressed an interest, and that over 900 outstanding schools are interested in becoming academies.

“Every school expressing an interest will have a named contact in the Department, who can answer their questions and guide them through the process. At the same time, we expect schools to keep their governors, staff and parents updated on progress.”

Those ruled outstanding applying for academy status are:

• Fort Pitt Grammar School;
• The Rochester Grammar School; and
• Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School

And those ruled to be not outstanding:

• Bradfields School;
• Cliffe Woods Primary;
• Danecourt School;
• Napier CP and Nursery School; and
• The Thomas Aveling School

Lord Hill added that “This is a genuinely permissive policy, there is no pressure for any school to convert by September, and they can do so at any time, when they feel they are ready.

“We want schools to decide what’s best for them, not politicians or bureaucrats.”