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Uni may be swayed by merger
Quintin Kynaston and Pimlico schools’ partnership plan to attract Westminster
A BID from University of Westminster to take control of Quintin Kynaston hinges on a controversial partnership plan with Pimlico School.
Jo Shuter, headteacher of Quintin Kynaston in St John’s Wood, said she would like to join forces with struggling Pimlico School, which is on special measures five miles away in Lupus Street.
The troubleshooting head, who was recently crowned Secondary head teacher of the year at the Teaching Awards, is backed by QK governors, who are in talks with the council, Pimlico and the University of Westminster about forming a federation.
The huge pupil base could sway a bid from University of Westminster, leading academic at the university and chair of QK governors Patrick Lees revealed.
He said the university stands to gain government funding if it increases its intake from disadvantaged backgrounds.
At last week’s meeting in City Hall, he said: “The issue of whether QK would suffer from this is something we have been tackling on a weekly basis.
“There are risks and we have committed Jo since December to Pimlico. But there are some very positive consequences.
“The University of Westminster is interested in forming a relationship with us and that might be made more attractive if the two schools come together.”
The Pimlico School Association has dismissed the plans as “privatisation by stealth”.
It believes the deal amounts to privatisation as it would end up taking the last two community schools in Westminster out of the control of the local authority.
But Mr Lees said the Association was acting in its own interests.
He said: “The Pimlico School Association, which does not represent parents at the school, has taken a very strong line in a bid to preserve the so-called comprehensive status.
“What QK is saying is that our package is the only way to preserve its ethos.
“We are in interested in partnering Pimlico if the school changes in terms of admissions or becomes, say, a secular school.
He added: “There is a very strong consensus from QK governors that we are doing the right thing – but we have to fight our corner to make sure less deals are done behind closed doors.”
A university spokes-man said: “The university is delighted to be building on its historical links with Quintin Kynaston School by discussing future educational partnerships within the City of Westminster.
“Patrick Lees has worked to bring the university in to discussions with QK, Pimlico School and Westminster on plans to develop a framework for much stronger institutional partnerships.” |
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