Academy 'could aid school crisis'

Parents can appeal against school place decisions

Hundreds of children who do not have secondary school places in east London should be taught at a "half empty" local academy, parents have said.

School places have not been found for 236 children in Hackney this September.

Parents have told Hackney Council that they would like them to go to Bridge Academy, which has spare classrooms as it has only operated for one year.

The Learning Trust, which runs Hackney education, said it was discussing the plan with central government.

Last month children nationwide were offered places at secondary schools after choosing up to six preferred schools.

But 331 children in Hackney were left without a place in any of their preferred schools.

Representing 14.4% of the total number of applicants in Hackney, it was the borough with the highest percentage of children without a school in England.

'Turned schools around'

Since then places have been found for a further 95 children in the borough and the Learning Trust said it was confident that by September the majority of parents would have found schools.

A Learning Trust spokeswoman said: "Back in 2001 there were fewer places available in Hackney and they were not being accepted by parents.

"What has happened is that we have turned around the schools in Hackney so there has been an increase in parents wanting to send their children here, from both inside and outside the borough."

She said parents could appeal against their school place decision or consider sending their children to schools outside the borough.

Going to a secondary school is stressful enough, without having to go to a school where he does not know anybody Karen Watson, parent

However a number of parents remain concerned about the situation. Karen Watson said she would not be happy to send her 11-year-old son to a school outside the borough.

"Going to a secondary school is stressful enough, without having to go to a school where he does not know anybody," she said.

"I was born in Hackney, I have lived in Hackney all my life. Why should I send my son to school outside the borough?"

Parent Len Lucas said children should be offered places at the nearby Bridge Academy, which opened last year. It has taken one extra intake of students per year, so its classrooms will not be full until 2011.

Parents also want a new KPMG Academy school, due to open in Hackney in 2009, to open a year early to ease the situation.

"New academy school facilities, which have cost millions, are left unused as the schools are filled from the 'bottom up,'" he said.

"These classrooms should be used for teaching Hackney children now - not bubble-wrapped for years whilst pupils are bussed out of Hackney to neighbouring schools in neighbouring boroughs."

Academy schools are managed and financed by central government and private finance firms.

The Learning Trust said it was in discussion with the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the academies concerned.

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