Mystery behind lack of minutes for key decision which triggered controversial academisation of Kent primary school

Mystery surrounds the detail of governor decision-making during which one of England’s most controversial looming academy conversions is said to have been formally launched.

There seems to be no public record of voting at a key meeting, at which it is said that governors voted to start the process of academising Paddock Wood primary school in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, with hold-ups in the release of information by the school now also criticised by the Information Commissioner.

The government’s Regional Schools Commissioner’s office has admitted, in an email seen by Education Uncovered, that the decision-making process “could have been improved upon”. However, the school is still set to academise next week.

Paddock Wood, a school rated “good” which is academising voluntarily, is in line to join one of England’s larger chains, Leigh Academies Trust, following a process about which there has already been considerable controversy.

The school was invited to comment last week.