Chauncy School

After becoming a Foundation School in 2008, Chauncy School in Ware is now consulting on a possible move to becoming an Academy.

Academies are publicly funded independent schools, free from local authority and national government control.

This freedom allows Academies to locally decide issues such as staff pay, how the curriculum is delivered length of the school day and term.

In a letter to parents the Chair of Governors sets out the reason why Chauncy is considering this change with particular emphasis on the financial freedom that becoming an Academy would allow the school.

Chauncy's Head, Dennis O'Sullivan has previously been an outspoken critic of the County Council's handling of financial matters with disputes over the costs of a new science block being well documented.

The letter to parents makes it clear that there is no intention to change the schools admission policy will be on changed and Chauncy will remain a at mixed comprehensive welcoming students of all abilities.

The school is part  way through a consultation process which will include parents, teaching and non-teaching staff and other interested parties. The deadline for community responses to the proposal in 28th February 2011.

The main teachers union, the NUT is opposed to Academies, in a statement to Ware-Online the school said that teaching staff were interested in and considering Academy status, rather than concerned as reported elsewhere.

For more information on the consultation process visit the Academy page on the school website

http://www.thechauncyschool.co.uk/academy.html