As the King’s College prepares to merge with a nearby primary to constitute a fresh academy, we inquiry whether it’s a excellent body if a private college becomes a state schoolThe King’s College, a private college in Tynemouth, North Tyneside, with fees of £9,990 a year, is locate to merge with a nearby state primary, Priory college, to constitute a fresh academy. Parents will no longer pay fees. Seven other independent schools have already become state academies.Anthony Seldon, Master of Wellington College”It’s a excellent body – particularly if the alternative is that the college closes altogether, and if it retains its very distinctive ethos and record of fantastic success. The worry is if that all dissipates – if fantastic staff desire to leave, if it doesn’t have the same aspirational ethos.I don’t reckon we should get rid of fee-paying altogether, since diversity of provision is vital and if human beings desire to pay for health or education or a larger house then we should let them. It wouldn’t be acceptable for the state to forcibly close fee-paying schools and deny parents that option. That’s not what belief polls exhibit the majority of the population wants and it would be profoundly undemocratic.So I don’t reckon all independent schools should become academies. However I do reckon they should either become an academy or sponsor an academy.”Steve White, divisional secretary, Waltham Forest NUT”An academy college isn’t a state college. If all private schools were turned into schools supported by their community authorities that wouldn’t be a terrible body, as extended as it was accompanied by a abundance of money. However I don’t reckon this college in Tyneside becoming an academy is a excellent body. They’re getting the same private college on the cheap without the parents having to pay. I don’t reckon it’s something the state should pay for.”Denise Grayson, who removed her daughter from Priory primary at the end week after the merger was announced”It’s not a excellent body – exceptionally if the state college is being used to prop up a college that’s failing to recruit enough students. The ripple effect will be felt very heavily for years to come. It’s going to be damaging to the community nursery and to the community high schools. It’s not happening in a vacuum. There will be repercussions for the community.”Richard Giles, vice chair of Tynemouth village association”Comprehensive education can only employment if it is truly comprehensive, and privilege and wealth have seriously eroded its effectiveness ever since 1945.Both King’s and Priory schools are outstanding, contributing much to Tynemouth in every path, however the risks are fantastic in meddling. In the small term, problems will arise when a college as excellent, and with such superb facilities, as King’s enters the community arena and inevitably rocks the boat for a while. However who knows, when everything has settled down, and different governments have clipped wings and regularised things, we could conceivably end up with a more equitable system, with fewer independents and a more truly comprehensive education for all.”Interviews by Harriet SwainPrivate schoolsAcademiesSchoolsHarriet Swainguardian.co.uk © 2012 Twitter News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Employ of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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