National Adjudicator Questions Value of City Academy

Following the failure of the Leicester School Organisation Committee to agree the proposed Mary Linwood Academy, as a result of NUT objections, the matter was referred to a national adjudicator.

In her report the adjudicator stated that the notice issued proposing the closure of Southfields Infants and Newry Junior:

"treats the staff, parents and governors of the two schools to be discontinued with scant respect."

She also stated that the plans by creating additional school places are:

"exacerbating still further the LEA's problems with surplus places and the parlous state of recruitment."

She concluded by commenting:

"Few arguments strongly in favour of this proposal have been advanced by any parties to it."

The sponsors of the new Academy would do well to take note of this.