Gove backs down over forced academy conversion after council brings JR

The Department for Education has backed down over plans to turn a primary school into an academy after Coventry City Council brought judicial review proceedings.

Education Secretary Michael Gove warned the local authority earlier this year to begin the conversion process after Henley Green Primary School’s results were below government targets.

Coventry launched a legal challenge in June, arguing that the school was making good progress.

The council claimed that forcing the school to convert would also be damaging to the local partnership of schools.

Henley Green’s provisional results for Year 6 pupils in English and Maths rose 20% this year, meaning that the school now exceeded the Government’s floor standard.

The DfE has now said it will not defend the legal action, but will require an Ofsted inspection.

A DfE spokesman said: “Henley Green Primary School has made some recent progress and we want to ensure that the governing body is able to build on this and sustain the improvement. That’s why we have asked Ofsted to carry out an inspection so that we have an independent overview of the school’s performance and capacity to improve.”

The council has agreed to withdraw its judicial review following the Department’s decision.

Cllr David Kershaw, Cabinet Member (Education) at Coventry, said: “I am delighted that Mr Gove has made the decision not to defend our legal challenge and recognises the commitment and strong leadership from the headteacher, staff and governors and the confidence of parents and the community. Everyone has worked really hard to turn things around which has really paid off.

"Irrespective of his decision not to defend our judicial review Mr Gove has informed us the school will have a visit from Ofsted inspectors. We are confident that the school will do well in the inspection and continue its journey of improvement into the future."

Philip Hoult