Changes to education are met with mixed reactions
Planned changes to a town's education system have met with mixed reactions.
Plans to merge existing schools in Kettering into two new academies have been criticised by some parents.
Kettering Buccleuch Academy will replace Montagu School and Avondale infants and junior schools, and a second academy will replace Ise Community College and Henry Gotch Primary School from September.
Ruth Hickey protested about Kettering Buccleuch Academy because she believed Avondale Infants School's good record meant it shouldn't be included in the plans.
She is also worried about the county council surrendering control to the academies' sponsors. She said: "Hopefully the county council will be able to retain some power over the academies because they need to be accountable to the people who are paying for them. If the academy isn't successful, I would hope the county council would take back control. Independent reports have shown that a number of academies
across the country aren't meeting government targets."
Mrs Hickey also expressed concerns over the effects on other schools in Kettering.
She said: "The county council needs to make sure that every child matters – it's all very well throwing money at a couple of academies but it could create a two-tier education system in Kettering.
"We don't want a knock-on effect of the opening of the academies so that other schools suffer."
There are two schools in the Kettering town area in special measures and one which has been given a notice to improve.
Mrs Hickey said: "Some of the teachers in Kettering are fantastic so efforts need to be made to bring all teachers up to the same standard and make sure they are not drawing on training from 20 years ago.
"I also think it should be easier to get rid of teachers who are not performing and aren't doing children any good."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Kettering
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
