CONCERNED parents are joining a campaign against re-organisation of education in West Sussex and plans to replace Midhurst Grammar School with a new academy. Ian Young, a teacher from Hammer, whose children go to the middle school and grammar in Midhurst, says parents are not being told the full implications of having a commercially funded academy and how they are run. He says once schools are handed over to businesses, the sponsor has the majority of governors who control the admissions policy and staff. He is worried this could lead to entrance exams, catchment areas being changed and teachers' pay being undermined. He said: "Once businesses put money in they have the say in the running of the school, In some areas of the country they allow exams for entrance, allowing in pupils from out of the area. This would also put pressure on the other local schools, such as Woolmer Hill, because parents would want to send their children there instead of the academy. "My son and a lot of his friends are concerned that the change over is going to be right in the middle of his GCSEs. The children too are not being informed of the actual substance of the amalgamation and what it could mean." The West Sussex proposal is to abolish the first, middle and secondary system and replace it with primary and secondary schools. Midhurst Grammar along with Midhurst Middle School and Herbert Shiner Middle School in Petworth would be replaced with an academy in either Midhurst or Easebourne. Mr Young added: "The existing set-up has been very successful. The standard of education is high and it is a good step up from a primary school to an intermediate. It is very daunting for a child to have a huge step up into a large secondary school at age 11." The NAME campaign (No Academy in Midhurst or Easebourne), is being led by a former teacher from Midhurst Grammar School, vicar Chris Boxley. Mr Boxley has established a website where parents can contribute their thoughts www. namecampaign.blogspot.com Last week more than 100 worried parents and teachers crowded into Easebourne Refrectory for a meeting organised by NAME. Among the speakers was a former teacher with United Learning Trust acadamies, one of the trusts being considered by West Sussex as a sponsor. Jane Eades told the meeting: "Local authorities are being bullied into accepting academy status in order to get more money."
