Troubled secondary school in Wembley to be turned into an academy

Copland Community School was placed in special measures by Ofsted

A troubled school in Wembley which was slammed in a recent Ofsted report has been earmarked for academy conversion.

The Times understands that Copland Community School was told by the Department for Education (DfE) yesterday (Tues) that it will have to adopt the government’s controversial status which places schools with sponsors and revokes control from the local authority.

In response, teachers will stage a mass walkout on Thursday, May 23 to protest against the plans.

Copland is currently the only secondary school in the borough which remains under local authority and Hank Roberts, national president for Association for Teachers and Lecturers said they were determined to fight against the plans.

He told the Times: “We regret any strike action but it will be no where near as disruptive as becoming an Academy would be.”

The school, in Cecil Avenue, has had a troubled history and four years ago its head teacher quit followed by his deputy who was sacked.

The pair, alongside four other members of staff, were charged with fraud amid claims they paid themselves illegal bonuses amounting to £2.7m.

They deny the claims and will face trial in September.

The DfE has been contacted for a comment.