Consult your communities on academisation – and then go ahead with it anyway, Catholic diocese appears to tell its schools

Archdiocese of Liverpool faces opposition from many parents, staff and seemingly the local Labour MP against the conversion of one school, which has been proposed as academisation of more than 200 looms.

 

A Roman Catholic archdiocese is facing intense controversy after appearing to tell school chairs of governors and headteachers that they should consult their communities on becoming academies – and then start the conversion process, whatever people think.

A document seen by Education Uncovered from the Archdiocese of Liverpool states that consultation should happen but, at its conclusion, governors should “confirm the intention to proceed with the application to convert,” and record such a decision in their meeting minutes.

In April, it was revealed that the archdiocese was planning for all of the non-academy schools and some colleges it oversees across the Liverpool region to academise. But a strike against the move, at a one-form entry primary school, has generated local media coverage.

The move seems controversial on multiple levels, with more than 100 parents at the school having written a collective letter this week urging it to be paused, and with the community not having been provided with any details as to when governors met to discuss the plan, let alone any meeting minutes.

The local Labour MP has written to the Archdiocese urging it not to “sideline” the will of the school community, and appearing to back the view that the school should not academise. And, this morning, the school agreed to extend the consultation period over the move.

The archdiocese has been approached for comment about its advice to schools.