Parent power stops Primary School from becoming an Academy

PARENT power has spoken at Kenmont Primary School after they won their battle to stop it being turned into an academy.

The school, in London has been without a permanent headteacher for five months and has struggled to hit its targets in recent years with their latest Ofsted report, in March 2008, rating it as 'satisfactory'.

This led to school governors seriously considering applying to convert the 260-pupil strong school into an academy which would be managed and run by the education charity ARK.

But the plans were met with fury by parents who vigorously campaigned to stop the project.

Six non-selective, state-funded ARK Academies in London have been introduced in London since the charity formed in 2004.

Burlington Danes Academy, in Shepherd's Bush, was the first to open in 2006 followed by King Solomon Academy, in Westminster, in 2007.

After the fierce opposition to the academy plans, governors at Kenmont have decided to back down and have outlined a new strategy plan for the school to aid improvements.

They include recruiting parents onto the board of governors and advertising for new headteacher.

Charlotte Johnson, chair of governors, said: "While recognising the hard work of pupils, staff and parents being committed to the shared aim for Kenmont to be an outstanding school, there is recognition that the school has some way to go to achieve this.

"Governors recognise that this is an extremely sensitive period for everyone involved with Kenmont. We would like to work with the school community to do all we can to ensure the school succeeds.

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