红桃影视

A Catholic archdiocese has been accused of subjecting leaders to 鈥渋nappropriate pressure鈥� and threatening to force out obstructive governors in its bid for 鈥渦niversal academisation鈥�. 

In a letter seen by Schools Week, the NAHT leaders鈥� union revealed members in the Archdiocese of Southwark say they have been 鈥渕et with hostility鈥� and fear 鈥渘egative repercussions鈥� for questioning the conversion plans. 

They have also claimed the body representing the Catholic bishops鈥� national education policy has hinted that those fighting proposals to join one of five religious multi-academy trusts could be downgraded during Catholic inspections. 

Leaders 鈥榝acing coercion鈥�

The Archdiocese of Southwark wants to place all its schools into five MATs of between 30 and 40 academies. It expects all schools to join them 鈥渙ver the coming two to three years鈥�. 

But Rob Kelsall, the NAHT鈥檚 assistant general secretary, told the archdiocese the union had received reports that 鈥渓eaders and governors are being subjected to undue and inappropriate pressure from your office to convert to academy status鈥�. 

Schools refusing to make the switch are 鈥渇acing coercion to proceed with academisation, irrespective of whether such a move aligns with the best interests of the school鈥�. 

The has also received 鈥渕ultiple reports鈥� that foundation governors 鈥� appointed by the diocese 鈥� are 鈥渂eing informed that they have a duty to pursue academisation鈥� as it is the 鈥渂ishop鈥檚 preference鈥�.聽

Kelsall noted that if this was the case, 鈥渟uch actions would represent a gross abuse of power鈥�.

One head, who did not want to be named, said they chose not to join one of the MATs because they weren’t satisfied with the diocese鈥檚 answer to the question: 鈥淲hat do my kids get out of it?鈥�

There鈥檚 “nothing wrong in insisting schools in trouble should join a multi-academy trust鈥�, they added. But to 鈥渢reat all your schools the same way, especially the high-performing ones, makes no sense 鈥� especially for the children in our care鈥�.

Guidance produced by the National Governance Association (NGA) states the 鈥渄ecision on when to convert and who to join with remains with the governing board鈥�. 

For those in schools with a religious character it was 鈥渨orth taking the time to consider鈥� whether conversion 鈥渋s the right decision鈥� even if the religious authority wanted them to move into a specific MAT that it ran. 

Archdiocese told: 鈥楥ease hostility鈥�

Kelsall argued such 鈥渆xternal pressure鈥�that seeks to override this legal position鈥� was 鈥渆ntirely inappropriate鈥� and raised 鈥渟erious ethical and legal concerns鈥�. 

鈥淚f foundation governors are being coerced into advancing academisation, this would be in direct conflict with their statutory duty to act in the best interests of the school. 

鈥淎ny attempt to replace foundation governors solely on the basis that they do not support academisation would be a fundamental subversion of democratic governance structures and would call into question the integrity of the entire process.鈥�

An email sent to union members last week said the NAHT was working with the NGA to draw up a motion for governors to use for formal votes 鈥渢o strengthen your position when dealing with any attempt to force you to academise鈥�. 

An archdiocese spokesperson did not dispute the claims in the letter, but said its 鈥減riority is providing schools that deliver high-quality Catholic education for our pupils鈥�.

Schools Week听谤别惫别补濒别诲 in December that all but one of the 19 English Catholic dioceses were pursuing trust growth plans, with one planning to split almost 200 schools between three super-sized trusts.

Latest government figures show there are more than 1,900 Catholic state schools in England. Of these more than 1,000 are academies. In Southwark, just over half of Catholic 152 primaries and secondaries are in a trust.

Fears schools could be marked down

The NAHT鈥檚 letter went on to state that it had heard reports the Catholic Education Service (CES) had suggested those resisting conversions 鈥渕ay receive less favourable judgments from the Catholic Schools Inspectorate鈥�.

The inspectorate, launched in 2019 with CES鈥檚 help, gives schools an overall grade after assessing their 鈥淐atholic life and mission鈥�, religious education and collective worship.

Kelsall noted that if this was the case, 鈥渟uch actions would represent a gross abuse of power鈥� and might breach the education and employment acts.

A CES spokesperson stressed there was 鈥渘othing within the inspection process requiring academisation鈥�.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the NAHT,聽said legislation was clear that decisions on governance structure and whether or not to pursue academisation rested with the governing board, as the school鈥檚 strategic decision-making body.