Parents and a union have raised concerns about a joint governing body’s plan for two Hove schools to become academies. The schools – West Hove Infant School and Hove Junior School which form the Hove Learning Federation – are currently holding a four-week consultation on joining the Aurora Academies Trust. The consultation is due to end on Tuesday 10 December.
Parent Vivoula Volgas went to a meeting with school governors and representatives of Aurora and raised concerns about the proposals. She said: “Our main concern is that we cannot trust a business with our children’s education and future. “We want the local authority to step up and fund adequately our outstanding school so that it can continue to flourish.
” Among parents’ concerns are Aurora’s membership of a large international education network and the financial stability of the sponsor company Pansophic UK Learning Limited. Public service union Unison is also concerned about the consultation process and the union’s previous knowledge of Aurora Academies Trust. Unison rep Matt Webb said: “Academisation does not replace the local authority.
It replaces the local governing body. In theory, the academy trust could buy into the services provided by the local authority. “The school governors appear to be unwittingly placing their own heads on the block.
The academy model removed all autonomy for the schools. “The school would no longer be run by a local governing body. It would be run by academy tr.
