Council wins High Court bid to halt forced academy conversion

The Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, had announced on 6 January that he was going to impose an Interim Executive Board and Academy Order on The Warren Comprehensive School from 8 January.

Barking and Dagenham Council and the governors of the school brought judicial review proceedings, arguing that the conversion was against the wishes of local residents.

Mr Justice Collins yesterday ruled that the IEB, Academy Order and a Hard Federation should not be implemented until further consultation had been undertaken.

The judge said the viable alternative of a Hard Federation had not been given due consideration before the Education Secretary made his decision.

Cllr John White, Cabinet Member for Children Services at Barking and Dagenham, said: “We welcome the decision of the High Court which is a victory for local people. This is a victory both for common sense and the education of our children.

“The Warren went into special measures a year ago and the local authority acted swiftly and within days established a partnership with Robert Clack School, an excellent school led by Sir Paul Grant to ensure rapid progress.”

Cllr White said this partnership was recognised to have been successful by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate (HMI), and acknowledged as helping by the Secretary of State.

The council said both it and the governing body were “mindful of the importance of a long-term, transparent relationship to stabilise the school”, and had agreed, unanimously, to consult on a Hard Federation.

The consultation began on 6 January 2014; “a development the Secretary of State was fully aware of”, it added.