This letter has been sent to the Secretary of State for Education following the motion that was approved at Full Council on 18 July.
Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP
Department for Education
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
Date:
25 July 2019
Dear Mr Williamson
Firstly, may I congratulate you on your appointment as Secretary of State at the Department for Education and I hope you will be in a position to urgently review a matter that has proven to be highly contentious.
The purpose of my letter is to explain that Dorset Council remains concerned about the arrangements to academise Budmouth College in Dorset.
Further to the letter from Dorset Council’s Executive Director for People – Children, Mrs Sarah Parker, which reflected the views and concerns of the Cabinet and Members, and the response received from Lord Agnew, we continue to have reservations about the process around academisation of Budmouth College at this juncture.
At the recent full council meeting, a motion (see attached), regarding Budmouth College received cross-party support. It was resolved that I should seek your support to delay the timetable for academisation of Budmouth College. This is so that progress since the last Ofsted report can be assessed, and consultation and engagement is undertaken with the local community, the wider council and wider stakeholders.
I will also seek confirmation from the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) of the reasons for the choice of Aspirations Academy Trust as the school’s provider and seek evidence of the adequacy of the due diligence carried out to ensure the appropriateness of the chosen organisation supplying the service.
I would like to state clearly that we are not in principle opposed to the academy conversion process but we do have continuing concerns around the visibility and accountability in this process, which have failed to be addressed to date – regardless of our representation to your office and the RSC.
We feel the local community deserves to be more fully involved and consulted on the future of their school than is currently provided for in the academy conversion process for sponsored academies.
Finally, may I extend an invitation to visit Dorset at your earliest convenience. In particular we feel there would be benefit in you seeing for yourself the educational provision in the South and West Dorset area.
Yours sincerely
Cllr Andrew Parry
Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Early Help
