Story: Ian Clifford
The new Liberal Democrat leadership of the Council have announced that a full parental ballot will take place on the issue of whether Parkwood Secondary School should become an academy. The ballot will involve not just parents of children at Parkwood, but parents of children at the “feeder” primary schools – those that send children to Parkwood, including Pye Bank CofE Primary.
Councillor Andrew Sanger, new Cabinet member covering education said:
“We know that local parents want to ensure that they are in control. We will require any school pursuing academy status to use the ballot system.”
The ballot will be run independently of the council and the school by the Electoral Reform Society, and will take place in the autumn as part of the next phase in consultation.
Speaking to the Messenger, Paul Scriven, leader of the Council, said:
“This is the first time this has happened anywhere in the country. The Government can’t say that local democracy doesn’t matter.”