Extension of consultation for academy proposal at Impington Village College

Impington Village College has just concluded a 4 week consultation on becoming an academy. Like most other schools in Cambridgeshire, the consultation has been rushed through and very little has been done to notify the local community, despite the governors saying that they wish to preserve the school’s “distinct ethos as an outward-facing village college true to the founding vision described by Henry Morris”.

We have collected around 300 local signatures on a paper petition, requesting an extension of time, to enable wider consultation, and expect the number to increase to between 300 and 400 by the time of the next governors’ meeting on 19th July.

At present the governors are ignoring the voice of the local community. The governors have not even acknowledged the petition*, let alone said they will consider it at the next full governors’ meeting on 19th July. A petition of this size should not simply be ‘swept under the carpet.”

We would like to extend the petition to include the wider Cambridgeshire community as every school that converts to an academy affects the neighbouring maintained schools and the services the Local Authority is able to provide. Changes of this magnitude should not be rushed through without broad and inclusive consultation. Please sign the petition if you live in Cambridgeshire.

We are also collecting signatures opposing the academy conversion – petition link here:

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/oppose-the-academy-proposal-at-impington-village-colleg.html

*petition since acknowledged by governors, after contact from local councillors, but still no indication that the consultation is likely to be extended.