Clapton Girls’ is first Hackney school to choose academy status

A girls’ school in Lower Clapton is set to be the first in Hackney to leave local authority control in favour of academy status.

Clapton Girls’ Technology College in Laura Place will begin the process of converting to an academy, after three-quarters of respondents to a recent consultation supported the proposal.

Chairwoman of the governing body, Camilla Allwood, said: “We are delighted that the response from the school community has given us a clear indication of their preferred future for the school.

“We are keen to reaffirm that Clapton Girls’ Technology College will maintain its current ethos and remain a successful, girls-only, inclusive, community school.”

Families and staff at Clapton Girls’ and nearby primary schools were asked their views on the school either becoming a charitable foundation funded by the Learning Trust, or an academy – independent from the local education authority.

The consultation came under fire, with the National Union of Teachers (NUT) branding it ‘undemocratic’.

But headteacher Cheryl Day said she was pleased at the level of engagement and thanked those who responded.

Every school in England was invited by the government to become an academy under sweeping education reforms last May.

The process at Clapton Girls’ is expected to be complete by September 2011.