Nottingham Post: Kimberley School rejects academy status

A NOTTS school has rejected the chance to switch to academy status.

Governors at Kimberley School turned down the controversial proposal at a meeting after months of consultation.

But the school has refused to rule out such a move in the future.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) had threatened strike action could result if the move went ahead.

And a protest group was set up to campaign against the plans.

In a statement, the governors said: "As a result of the comprehensive consultation exercise, the governors of Kimberley School unanimously believed that, on balance, it is not in the interests of the school to change status at this time.

"However the governors have resolved to keep this under review."

The school's decision comes despite several others in the county and city making the move.

Academies are independent of the local authority and funded directly by central Government.

NUT member Ian Stevenson, who helped set up the protest group, said the decision could signal a "turn in the tide" against academies and that the strike threat had now been withdrawn.

He said: "We are very pleased with the decision that has been made at Kimberley School. We believe that the school and the teachers there can now look forward to do what they do best – teaching.

"The details of exactly why the proposals have been rejected haven't been announced, but we feel it could mean a turn in the tide. It is a brave decision as the Government and local authority seem to have been moving a lot towards creating more academies.

"This perhaps goes to show that there is some strength of feeling against them."