Scandal-hit Holland Park School sees DfE force decision to join academy

By Jacob Phillips, Local Democracy Reporter

Holland Park School will join the academy group United Learning despite a legal battle and strike action against the decision.

The Department for Education has now signed off on plans for the school to join the UK’s biggest academy trust.

In a letter to parents, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Dame Kath Dethridge said United Learning had the resources to turn around Holland Park School.

The Department for Education regional director said: “This has been a turbulent year for students at Holland Park School, following on from two years of disruption as a result of Covid.

“We all want the best for the students at Holland Park School and I hope that as we approach the new academic year, we can work together to return Holland Park School to a calm and stable footing and ensure that the students at Holland Park School get the excellent education they deserve.”

The school has been hit by scandal over the past few months. In May, an independent investigation found the school failed to protect children from sexual abuse, while some pupils were shouted at and publicly humiliated.

The independent report also said there was sexist, Islamophobic and racist discrimination at the school and certain students were taken off-site or told not to go to school when Ofsted visited.

It also said: “Very little support was provided to students following traumatic events such as the Grenfell tragedy and the suicide of a student.”

The Department for Education said United Learning will now write directly to parents to set out its plans for the school and it will remain in “open dialogue” going forward.

Around 400 parents have been battling to stop the school from joining United Learning and there have been protests from students along with recent teacher strikes.

Parents protested outside the school gates against the decision to join United Learning and Kensington and Chelsea Council also opposed the decision.

They campaigned at length for the school to be merged with nearby Kensington Aldridge Academy and Kensington and Chelsea Council also supported the move.

But the Department for Education said the school “does not currently have experience of improving a school with an ‘Inadequate’ Ofsted judgement.”

A spokesperson for the school said: “The Department for Education has today advised, following a decision by the Minister, that Holland Park School will join United Learning. 

“United Learning is a strong and experienced academy trust with an excellent track record in turning around schools. We are confident this decision is the right one to take the school forward. United Learning will be supporting the school from September ahead of it formally transferring later in the year.

“Although we understand that some stakeholders will be disappointed by this decision, we hope that all can now come together to support the school in the best interests of our students.”

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