UNISON has welcomed a decision by the Department for Education to drop plans to turn Leicester’s West Gate School into an academy.
West Gate has 180 pupils, aged 4 to 19, with a range of learning needs. Pupils have moderate to severe learning difficulties, autism spectrum conditions, multiple learning difficulties and highly complex needs.
In November 2018 the school was rated as ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted, which meant it was automatically given an academy order by the secretary of state for education. Since then, the most serious issues have been addressed and, as of June 2021, West Gate has earned a ‘good’ rating which led to UNISON calling for the order to be lifted.
UNISON says the plans would have seen the school taken from the control of Leicester City Council and given to Falcon Education, a group with no prior experience in special educational needs.
UNISON East Midlands regional organiser Elliot Dean said: “It’s welcome news that the Department for Education has listened to staff, parents and the local community.
“This common sense decision is in the best interest of the school and means the staff can now fully concentrate on delivering the highest quality education possible”.