Protest as superschool at risk

Scores of angry parents are expected at an emergency public meeting called after it emerged that plans to transform a Black County secondary school into a ‘‘superschool’’ could be scrapped.

The Express & Star revealed last week that education bosses may pull the plug on the scheme to make Dudley’s Holly Hall Maths and Computing College an academy school, on the grounds that its exam results are too good. Castle High, deemed a failing school under government criteria, is being lined up to take its place.

But governors from Holly Hall are fuming about the possible change of plan.

They will stage a meeting at the school in Scotts Green Close on Wednesday evening.

Governors chairman Sue Sharp said: “The majority of governors learned that Holly Hall was no longer to be considered for academy status from the Express & Star.

“We are incensed by this turn of events and reserve the right to take whatever action we see fit in order to protect the best interests and future of this school.”

Senior figures in Dudley Council’s education department have been invited to attend the meeting in order to explain the confusion, but the timing clashes with a cabinet meeting on the same night.

Council education chiefs have stressed that funding for academy status is dependent on schools meeting criteria set down by the Government’s Office of the Schools’ Commissioner.

But parents of Holly Hall pupils will be keen to find out why impressive exam results could prevent the school from undergoing the costly revamp, while the similarly successful Crestwood School still seems set for the multi-million pound rebuild.

Speaking on behalf of fellow governors, Mrs Sharp said: “It is the ultimate irony that the reason given for our school not becoming an academy is that we are too successful.

“Why is Crestwood not considered too successful to be an academy? The future of a very successful school is being damaged and put at considerable risk by these ill-thought out proposals, which appear to be knee-jerk reactions to the Officer of the Schools’ Commissioner.”

The public meeting takes place at 7.30pm.