I have to take issue with Bob Blackman’s comment “freed from the dead hand of the local authority”, ‘Seven schools want to become academies’, Harrow Times, March 10.

Had he bothered to speak to his Tory councillor colleagues in Harrow, he would have discovered that the relationship with the local authority has been far from a “dead hand”.

The support given to schools in finance, legal matters, property services, human resources and many service level agreements by the local authority has been valued by schools, parents and governors alike for many years.

This vibrant and successful partnership has enjoyed cross-party support and has continued seamlessly after elections, regardless of which political party has taken control.

Clearly, Mr Blackman has little experience and scant knowledge of the history of the excellent education service schools in the London Borough of Harrow has provided in partnership with the local authority. Schools have always experienced great support from local authority officers and many of his Tory councillor colleagues in Harrow (past and present), support this view.

Harrow has always been in the forefront of excellence in education and in innovation of its delivery. We have a strong school improvement service which supports and challenges our high schools (as well as our primary sector). This has resulted in all of our high school Ofsted inspections receiving judgements of “Outstanding” or “Good with outstanding prospects”.

Harrow delegates the highest percentage of dedicated schools grant (DSG) to its schools than any other London borough, and its schools enjoy a far greater autonomy in Harrow than schools in many other authorities.

It is hoped that all of our schools wish to remain within the “Harrow family of schools”, continuing a highly successful partnership with the local authority. It will be for governing bodies to decide what is best for their school after taking account of the views of parents, the primary sector and the wider community.

Far from being a “dead hand” Mr Blackman, the London Borough of Harrow will continue to play a positive role in partnership with any school converting to an academy as well as schools that choose to remain as they are, as we all have at heart the best interests of those that matter most, our children.

Brian Gate
portfolio holder for schools and colleges, London Borough of Harrow