Theresa May has welcomed the announcement by six local schools that they are investigating Academy status under the Government’s education reforms. The headteachers of the six schools have jointly written to the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, indicating their interest in exploring Academy status, which would bring additional freedoms away from control of the local authority.
The headteachers of Newlands Girls’ School, Altwood Church of England School, Cox Green School, Desborough School and Furze Platt Senior School have all stated their support for the move, alongside the headteacher of Holyport Manor School, which will open on a new site in September.
The schools – who together make up the Maidenhead Federation partnership – are planning to work together as they simultaneously consider a move toward Academy status whilst remaining distinct entities. Their announcement follows the Government’s invitation to every school in the country to become an Academy.
Theresa said, “I strongly welcome the interest that these six local schools have shown in becoming Academies. This will be a big boost to education in the local area. By freeing schools from local authority control and giving them greater independence we can drive up education standards and ensure that it is teachers, not officials, who are in charge. I look forward to discussing this further with the headteachers and giving my support to their work.”
