|
|
 |
| |
Ken Muller - Isington NUT spokesman |
Controversial city academy three years behind schedule
Crisis meeting over £26m ‘super school’ as union expresses fears for pupils’ safety
A CONTROVERSIAL city academy planned for the site of Islington Green School is running three years behind schedule, the Tribune has learned.
The £26 million ‘super school’ project, in Prebend Street, Angel, has been beset by funding and design difficulties.
It was due to open in September 2008 with City University and the City of London as its
£2 million sponsors.
Cecilia Darker, chairwoman of the board of governors, admitted last night (Thursday) that building plans were progressing slowly.
She said: “It’s a very tight schedule, we know that, but a lot of things are dependant on each other and we are waiting for the Department for Schools, Children and Families and the architects.”
Next September, Islington Green will become an academy on paper only, but diggers and cranes will grind away only feet from classrooms for at least two more years.
Ms Darker said: “The new head of the academy is hopefully going to be appointed in January 2008.”
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) said last night (Thursday) it fears for the safety and working environment for pupils and staff while much of the school is a building site.
It has echoes of the fiasco at Islington Arts and Media School in Finsbury Park, formerly George Orwell comprehensive, where children were forced to move into the new buildings before they had been built properly.
Former Islington Green headteacher Trevor Averre-Beeson was confident the work would be complete by 2008 and pupils would move straight into a futuristic academy.
Ken Muller, spokesman for Islington NUT, said: “They are not interested in the wellbeing of the students or staff and are obsessed with getting this academy established at any cost.
“Students and staff are going to have to work in the middle of a building site.”
Now bosses are scrambling to rush through a new round of public consultation before planning permission can be granted.
There has been no notice anywhere that a consultation – due next week – is happening, with parents, residents and staff invited to voice their views on Thursday and Friday.
Mr Muller said: “We have what appears to be a sham consultation with total disregard for the local community which just reinforces our concerns that they are pushing this through and are ignoring popular opposition.”
He added there had been a complete information blackout over the new consultation.
In April, academy opponents forced the council into a climbdown and an out-of-court settlement with the council over a previous consultation and admissions criteria.
Mr Muller warned the academy project was again wide open to a new legal challenge.
Councillor Ursula Woolley, Islington’s schools chief, said: “The sponsors are following good practice by conducting a non-statutory local consultation before they put in a formal planning application.
“We are still on target for Islington Green to open as an academy in September next year.” |
 |
|
| |
| Your Comments: |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
