Call for school takeover to be paused while Government is “unstable”

By Hannah Neary, Local Democracy Reporter

The takeover of a failing west London school must be paused after a £1m council loan and the recent Government reshuffle, three Labour councillors say.

The final say on the future of struggling Holland Park School in Airlie Gardens, is set to be announced by the schools minister on July 21.

But Labour members want the decision to be put on hold, claiming the current state of the Government is unstable and doesn’t give room for proper consideration of the best option for the school.

The Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) has announced Holland Park could be transferred to United Learning – the largest multi-academy chain in the country.

In March 2022, the board of governors said United Learning Trust was their preferred partner for the school.

About 400 parents have been battling this decision and there have been protests from students and parents, along with recent teacher strikes.

Kensington and Chelsea council, along with many parents, teachers and students, would prefer a partnership between Holland Park School and nearby Kensington Aldridge Academy (KAA).

The council has agreed to loan KAA £1 million to help takeover the running of Holland Park.

Kensington Labour councillors are now calling for the Department for Education and Baroness Barran to take the concerns of teachers, parents and pupils seriously and pause the negotiations until after the summer.

In a letter to Baroness Barran, the Labour group said: “Given the instability of the Government today, and the lack of a Secretary of State for Education, we are writing to ask for a pause in this negotiation to allow for full scrutiny and leadership, and to consider seriously the offer of RBKC’s £1m loan to support Kensington Aldridge Academy to form a two-academy trust with Holland Park School.”

Pictured top: Holland Park School (Picture: Google Street View)