Transition To Academy & Closure
In 2007, the school announced plans to become an academy in partnership with West Sussex County Council and Woodard Schools becoming its partners. The DCSF quickly accepted the submitted 'expressions of interest', and asked LCS to develop a feasibility study, moving the development of an academy much closer.
An early suggestion proposed during the feasibility study was to name the new institution after Dame Anita Roddick, a longtime supporter of the school, who had recently died. This suggestion was never taken up by Woodard Schools, who opted for the name 'The Littlehampton Academy'.
The feasibility study saw much opposition to the academy proposals becoming evident, with the National Union of Teachers (NUT) openly opposing the plans, stating that they were "not impressed" by Woodard's lack of detailed discussions on the proposals, and the number of issues which they claim the school's senior management team refuses to address.
The main consultation event was held on Thursday 13 March 2008, and was open to parents, staff, students and wider members of the community, who could put questions to a panel that included the Headteacher, Chairman of the School Governors, a West Sussex County Council Representative, head of the consultation process and representatives from the Woodard Trust. One of the main concerns raised at the event was the possibility of the Academy becoming a faith-designated establishment, a suggestion widely denied by Woodard. The results of this consultation were largely negative, a reaction that 'surprised' the school. Feedback from the evening showed that seven staff were in favour of academy plans with fifty against, whilst 36 parents said they supported the move, compared to 141 who opposed it.
Despite opposition to the proposal, the government approved the plans for an Academy in September 2008, with West Sussex Council saying they were "confident the academies will enhance educational opportunities". Parents' fears of major changes intensified shortly afterwards when the headteacher, Jayne Wilson, announced she would be leaving the school when LCS closed, with Woodard Schools subsequently announcing that Steve Jewell would become the Academy's principal. The appointment of Jewell led to renewed speculation that the Academy would be a faith designated school, something that Woodard had constantly denied. However, the publication of the academy's prospectus confirmed that the new establishment would indeed be a "Christian designated academy". The prospectus also confirmed that the school would continue in its specialism of Business and Enterprise, whilst also becoming a specialist school in English.
The approval of The Littlehampton Academy meant that The Littlehampton Community School closed at the end of the 2008/09 academic year, ceasing to exist fully on August 31, 2009.
Read more about this topic: Littlehampton Community School
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—Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
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—Harold Bloom (b. 1930)