First of all, I would like to commend the headteachers and governing bodies of the seven Harrow schools considering academy status. I praise their efforts to engage with their parents, unions, council and the wider community before they make what is a hugely significant decision for the future of education in Harrow.

Harrow Council fully understands the position they are in and the benefits academy status would bring them. This is a decision for the governing bodies and we will respect whatever they choose to do. We have made it plain that the council will continue to support high schools whether they become academies or not.

The council and our schools are absolutely united in a common goal to provide the very best education for children and young people in Harrow.

In response to the accusations from the Conservative group (‘Concerned by “partisan” stance’, Your Views, March 24), in no way has the Labour administration used the “official machinery” of the council to lobby governors.

Since the schools announced that they were formally considering academy status, we have carefully worked to raise the profile of the consultation. On an issue of this importance, that affects so many people, we feel it is right for everyone to have the opportunity to make their views known. This includes working with the Harrow Times among others, and using our website to give people the information — both for and against academies — so that they can make an informed decision on the issue.

As the elected administration in Harrow, we have also given our view, which is the council’s view, that we would prefer the seven high schools to remain within the family of schools in Harrow. It is a partnership that has worked well with cross-party support for many years and we feel still brings a wide benefit to the community.

This view was approved in the recommendations made by the council’s cross-party education consultative forum in March, so to suggest the opposition had no say in it is simply wrong.

I know our school governing bodies are strong enough to make their own decisions on academy status, following consultation with their communities, and it is a slight on their integrity to suggest we could sway their decision.

But the really sad thing here is that in the midst of a healthy community debate, and ahead of a decision that the council has committed to supporting either way, the opposition are indulging in cheap political point scoring.

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