LEWISHAM'S Green Party councillors have formally objected to plans for Catford High to form a ‘partnership’ with Colfe’s private school, and for Addey & Stanhope, Crossways and Deptford Green to join a ‘hard federation’ dominated by Goldsmiths.
We are very much in favour of schools and other institutions co-operating, sharing expertise and resources.
But we believe the loser in these new arrangements would be parent power.
The head of £4,000-a-term Colfe’s would get a seat on Catford High’s board and the elite school could appoint further governors, giving it a great deal of power in return for a few bursaries for Catford High’s brightest.
In the Goldsmiths partnership, our three schools would share one governing body, dominated permanently by the university.
Our fear is that parent governor numbers will be cut and replaced by talking-shop parent councils, while day-to-day management becomes more remote.
We say you can raise pupil achievement, share knowledge and co-operate without these anti-democratic changes.
And if fee-paying Colfe’s sincerely wants to contribute to the community, let it opt into the state sector and become a local authority-run comprehensive school.
Cllr Darren Johnson
Leader, Green Party Group
London Borough of Lewisham
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