Claremont High School wants academy status to take it 'beyond outstanding'

Claremont High School, in Claremont Avenue, voted to cut its formal ties with Brent Council last week after 70 per cent of staff voted against the proposal in a secret ballot.

The schools, rated "outstanding" by education watchdog Ofsted in its last inspection, has said it wants to remain in the "Brent family" and keep links with other schools.

Hank Roberts, junior vice-president of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, says there will be strikes and attempts to block the move through the courts.

Terry Molloy, headteacher at Claremont, said in a statement: “The Governors have been tremendously focused in their determination to understand what conversion means and what opportunities it would bring.

“Governors have used their guiding principles to ensure that all of Claremont High School’s pupils will benefit from the conversion.

“They have set challenging expectations for Claremont under its new status; the most significant of which is to move the school beyond Outstanding”.

The statement made no reference to the threats of strikes and legal action from the teaching unions.

Governors have pledged to “support current staffing levels”, ensure “resources are in place” to recruit the best teachers and support staff and work to ensure strong financial management.

The school says it will not change its name or ethos and its admissions criteria will not change without “due process”.

It will remain in the “Brent family” and will keep the same range of subjects to ensure “all pupils, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities, will reach their full potential”.

Zac Arif, chairman of governors, said: “This has been a major issue for all of us involved with Claremont.

“We believe that the guiding principles that we have applied are those that are most relevant to our school at this time.

“Our concern has always been that the pupils’ needs should come first. Standing still and doing nothing was simply not an option”.