LCS not failing

Mr Toole-Mackson was not part of the LCS governing body so has no knowledge of the considerable discussions held by governors with WSCC and Woodard at that time.

His assumption “that the academy would not have come into being if LCS was judged as successful…..” is incorrect.

The Littlehampton Community School was approached by WSCC in 2008 as to whether they wished to join the academy programme.

As a “phase two” school on the academy criteria (a school working in challenging circumstances) we were eligible during that year only to apply to become an academy.

At that time, moving to the academy programme meant a new school built, desperately needed for our school.

Gazette readers may remember that the school had just lost out to Bognor Regis Community College in the Building Schools for the Future project set up by the government.

An artist’s impression featured on the front page of the Gazette at the time.

WSCC, the school and its governing body were of the opinion that the only way to secure a 21st century state-of-the art building, fit for purpose for the young people of Littlehampton, was through the academy programme. Several other schools in the county were also part of the phase two programme.

After much debate and deliberation, the governing body took the decision to move to academy status in order to secure the new building.

All this is clearly evidenced in the governing body minutes which are in the public domain and available for all to read.

Many Gazette readers will also have been present at the open public meeting held by WSCC, governors and Woodard during 2008 where the reasons for looking at academy status for LCS and the joint sponsorship of the Academy by Woodard and WSCC were shared.

This was never anything other than securing the amazing new build that our young people so richly deserved.

I am saddened by the current situation at the school but know that every member of staff there will be working exceptionally hard to continue to offer the best educational experience possible for the young people of Littlehampton, regardless of who is the sponsor, the school name or the current headteacher.

They are all professional people who give their all for the young people entrusted to their care.

All of us should be offering them our support.

Spurious statements in the press are not helpful.

Jayne Wilson

Headteacher of LCS from 2002 to 2009

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