Bosses told to scrap Durham academy plans

Mar 11 2009 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

EDUCATION bosses were being put under increasing pressure last night to scrap controversial plans to merge two schools into a single academy.

The board of governors at Belmont School Community Art College. Durham, yesterday submitted a formal reply to Durham County Council urging it to abandon a proposal to merge them with Durham Gilesgate Sports College in the city.

And a petition opposing the plan is due to be launched today.

Durham County Council wants to replace Belmont and Durham Gilesgate Sports College with an academy co-sponsored by the council and the Durham Excellence in Education Partnership (Deep) – a consortium led by Durham University.

The proposed academy for Durham City would have 1,200 places for pupils aged 11-16.

But the authority has yet to announce any plans for where the new academy would be sited, should it get the go-ahead.

And education bosses have been accused of “riding roughshod” over the wishes of parents, pupils, staff and governors at Belmont.