THE academy bandwagon is set to roll into Hexham, with proposals announced this week for Hexham Queen Elizabeth High School and its associated middle school to become a multi-academy trust.

Parents at both schools were being consulted on the proposals even before Prime Minister David Cameron announced his plans to take all schools out of local council control.

In a joint letter to parents, executive headteacher at both schools Graeme Atkins, and co-chairmen of governors Simon Kitchman and Sandra Thompson have stressed the advantages of turning the existing hard federation of the two schools into an academy trust.

Mr Atkins told the Courant : “The government’s direction of travel has been evident for some time. The governing body and I have been carefully considering the implications and what would be in the best interests of our children.

“We believe that it is important that we stay in control of our own destiny. We feel the time is now right to go out to wider consultation.”

Despite the severe problems faced by other Tynedale schools which either voluntarily or otherwise converted to academy status, the letter is clear that becoming an academy is seen as the best way forward for Hexham.

The letter states: “The education landscape is undergoing a period of considerable change, both nationally and locally. This includes changes to the curriculum, testing and exams, and the ways in which schools are held to account.

“In addition, costs are rising and levels of funding remain flat.

“There are also significant changes to how schools are run. Almost two thirds of secondary schools in England are already academies, independent of the local authority and funded directly by central government.

“Under-performing schools are liable to be taken over by academy sponsors, sometimes from outside the area. Government policy is that all schools will become academies in the next few years.

“In the light of these changes, the federation governing body has been considering carefully what would be in the best interests of our children, both now and in the future.

“As a result, we are intending to consult on conversion of our existing Federation to a multi-academy trust.”

The main reasons for the change are that the schools would be able to shape their own destiny, maintaining the ethos which the letter writers believe makes the schools so special.

Academy conversion would also enable them to bid for badly-needed capital funding to improve school buildings and facilities, providing a better educational experience.

It is also felt that establishing the trust could be the catalyst for other schools in the area to join a strong collective body if everyone agreed this was mutually beneficial.

Before a final decision is made, the schools will be be consulting parents, students, staff, unions, partnership schools and others, in order to seek their views.

Informal drop-in sessions for parents will also be held at each school to gather views after the Easter holidays.

brian.tilley@hexham-courant.co.uk