County Cllr Sue Burfoot has written to Highfields School Chair of Governors to urge that effective consultation on proposed academisation is undertaken.

County Cllr Sue Burfoot

The move to consultation by the Governors to convert the school to an Academy is rushed as no meaningful consultation can surely be carried out during the COVID pandemic.

A change to academisation would be an irreversible decision for staff, pupils, parents and the wider community.

Full consideration of the arguments is crucial and must be done openly and fairly with all stakeholders and interested parties involved. This must include open, public meetings when debate is possible.

This is too important a decision to be rushed and needs meaningful consultation with accessible meetings where interested parties can raise concerns. I recommend that this happens when face to face meetings are safe and therefore possible."

Derbyshire Liberal Democrats will seek to increase the autonomy of individual school spending, while retaining democratic accountability for proper scrutiny. We regret the fragmentation of our education system and will ensure the proper ring-fencing of money for capital expenditure - so that schools are not left having to make the difficult decision between investing in education or repairing buildings.