Schools in south-west Hertfordshire register academy interest (From Watford Observer)

Schools in south-west Hertfordshire register academy interest

4:47pm Friday 25th June 2010 in

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Schools across south-west Hertfordshire have registered an interest in becoming academies.

Academies are state funded schools that are independent of the local education authority, can set their own pay and conditions for staff, opt out of the National Curriculum and change the length of school days and terms.

The first two academies in Hertfordshire opened last September – Bushey Hall School became The Bushey Academy and Francis Combe Secondary School became Francis Combe Academy.

It was shortly after taking office following the election that Education Secretary Michael Gove wrote to all schools in England to invite them to become academies.

And the Department for Education today published a list of 1,700 schools that have registered an interest in becoming academies, after coming under pressure from unions and anti-academy groups.

However, it is unknown which of these have actually applied to become academies.

The list is split into those judged outstanding by Ofsted, who can be fast-tracked to academy status by September this year, and other schools.

Outstanding schools in south-west Hertfordshire that have declared an interest in becoming an academy so far are: Watford Grammar School for Girls; Watford Grammar School for Boys; Eastbury Farm JMI School; Bovingdon Primary School; Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery; St John's Church of England Infant and Nursery School; St Michael's Catholic High School; Cassiobury Junior School.

Other schools that have registered an interest are: Bushey Meads School; Parmiter's School; Queens' School; Rickmansworth School; St Joan of Arc School; St Clement Danes School; St Mary's Church of England Primary School.