THE fear that trust status could mean companies moving in and selling off the playing fields was misplaced, the chairman of governors of South Dartmoor Community College, Ashburton, said this week.
Mike Billington reassured Ashburton town councillors on Tuesday that if it decided to go for trust status, there would be only four partners on a governing body of 18.
'It would still be the governing body in control,' he said. Mr Billington said the college did not have trust status, as has been reported, but was one of 70 Pathfinder schools nationally seriously considering the option.
The 1,700-pupil college has been at the forefront of educational change. It was in the first batch to become a specialist sports college in 1997, in 2001 it gained training school designation, in 2003 it was awarded leading edge status and in 2004 it formed the learning institute as part of the national school-based teacher training programme.
'Our attitude is that if something is happening let's get involved early and find out what it is about rather than sit back have it done to us,' he said. He said indications were that trust schools would be on the agenda whatever government was in power.
The college is collaborating with five other pathfinder schools. The heads have made a joint undertaking not to go for trust status at the detriment of other schools. Trust status would allow them to select a proportion of students – something Mr Billington said they could already do as a sports college. But they had chosen never to exercise that right.
Staff would be employed by a governing body instead of Devon County Council. Mr Billington said salaries and conditions would be protected and the only change most would notice would be a different name at the top of their payslip. Fears that big companies would be able to sell off the land were equally misplaced. The ultimate decision for any sell-off would lie with the Secretary of State.
'I can assure you we won't be trying to sell off the sports field to make some money,' he said. The vision will be to raise standards and to achieve this they were looking at four partners: Capita Education, a leading supplier of information systems in schools and colleges; Exeter University; TLO Educational Publishing Company; and Glendinnings.
'We think Glendinnings are an ideal partner. What they've done for the college over the past 10 years is phenomenal,' he said. The college held consultations with parents yesterday, which were extended to the public. Mr Billington said the DfES would love a decision by September but the college would not be rushed. 'It is something we are going to do seriously, it's a big step to take,' he said.