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Head appointed for controversial Wembley city academy
Evening Standard 12 May 2008
A headteacher has been appointed to lead a city academy due to be built next to Wembley Stadium.
Jacqueline Steele, currently deputy head at Fox Primary School in Notting Hill, will be the founding head of the academy's primary school in Wembley Park.
The academy will be sponsored by ARK, the educational charity founded by hedge fund tycoon Arpad Busson, and is backed by Brent council's ruling Liberal Democrat/Conservative coalition.
The "all-through" school, for three- to 18-year-olds, has attracted a wave of opposition from teachers and parents who say it should be built in the south of Brent where the need for school places is the greatest. Ms Steele, who has held her current post for seven years, said: "I want every child to achieve exceptional results, first in literacy and numeracy but also across the curriculum, so that every child can find the subjects in which they can excel.
"I intend to work closely with parents and carers to create partnerships for our pupils' success."
As well as appointing Ms Steele, the council and ARK have unveiled detailed plans of the proposed buildings.
These will be on view at a pre-planning exhibition at Brent Town Hall this week.
Reader views (1)
I am the Conservative Leader on Brent Council. We are opposed to the Ark City Academy, or any other form of school being sited on the Wembley Park Playing Fields. We have consistently campaigned for any new school to be sited in the south of Brent where the places are required rather than the proposed site. We have consistently voted against every single decision. The Liberal Democrats were opposed to the site before the local elections of 2006. Please correct the position as we are supporting the broad-based campaign of the teachers, residents. parents and local councillors to oppose this ill considered plan.
Councillor Bob Blackman
Leader of the Conservative Group
- Bob Blackman, Wembley, UK, 12/05/2008 15:00
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