Balham's Secondary School's in state of flux

The introduction of 'Free Schools' boasts to be the most radical change the education system has seen for more than 50 years.  No two Free Schools will be the same, each reflecting the vision and needs of the instigating campaign group.  It's meant to be a mechanism for getting the schools parents want, rather than one that squeezes kids around the National Curriculum.  

Wandsworth Council Leader, Edward Lister has said: "The great thing about Free Schools is that they enable parents to decide their own priorities.  The impact of this revolution will be felt in every school, that's why we can't wait to get started in Wandsworth ..."  So no surprise then that one of these Free Schools is on the verge of becoming a reality in Battersea, just off the Northcote Road and that puts Balham residents within it's sights.  Pictures have already been mocked up by SE London architects Studio Octopi.

The parents who set up the National School Campaign for Battersea were invited to a reception with David Cameron and Michael Gove at Number 10 and are expecting an announcement from ministers in September indicating their agreement to establishing the school. In their August newsletter the NSC say: 'Assuming all goes well, we would aim to open the school for the first year 7 intake in September 2012.'

Another Balham secondary school, Chestnut Grove is an 'outstanding school', and as such has been given the opportunity to 'convert' to academy status.  An academy means state-maintained, but independently run enabling a lot more freedoms than schools under local authority control.  

Chestnut Grove is currently engaging in a consultation process with parents and staff so that governors can take their views into consideration.  Margaret Peacock, Headteacher, has said on the school's website: 'The issues involved are complex ones and we think this process will take some time before governors feel they are sufficiently informed to make the decision.'

La Retraite, the catholic girls school in Balham, but under Lambeth's guardianship has also an 'outstanding' ofsted but it's not clear if it, too is considering academy status.  The BBC reported in June that the Catholic Education Service has: 'written to 2,000 Catholic schools, advising "great caution" on academies'.