Waseley Hills High parents' hope for academy vote

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PARENTS of children at Waseley Hills HIgh School took a step closer to gaining a vote on the proposals to apply for academy status.

At the open forum on May 22, headteacher Alan Roll agreed to put it to the school's governing body to consider parents having a ballot on the issue, following calls from Rubery councillor Peter McDonald.

The meeting was attended by around 40 people - a higher than usual turnout for a parents' forum - marking the largest direct consultation to date that has taken place between the school and parents on academy status.

Alan Roll said: "All in all it was a very positive meeting.

"It was well-attended - we are always pleased any time parents come along to these meetings."

He added there was a significant discussion on academy status in which plenty of people shared their views for and against it.

And he confirmed the governing body, which is still deliberating on the topic, will consider holding a parental vote.

Coun McDonald was pleased at the outcome of the meeting.

He said: "At long last the school is going in the right direction."

Parent Cormac Loane, who has campaigned against academy status, was also at the meeting and spoke on the subject. He too was pleased about the latest development, hailing the night a 'success'.

Mr Lane said: "This is really significant, parents have now been mobilised by this.

"There are few schools that have a parental ballot."

Waseley High is yet to recieve a response after submitting its formal application to Worcestershire County Council.

The school will be able to withdraw from the process at anytime prior to signing the final documentation.

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