Several people responded to my blog posting about my meeting with Fortismere’s Head and the Chair of Governors.

The main thrust of the comment was the bit in my blog entry about the ‘categoric assurances’ I had received from the Head of Governors that there had been no discussion about becoming a Trust School.

I have been shown a copy of the Strategic Planning Paper prepared for the Governors by the previous Acting Head, which lists Trust Schools as a possible course for the school, and am now told that this was ‘fully discussed’ by them in a Governing Body meeting in May this year.

The second thread of concern seems to be around the Head’s intentions with regard to access to Fortismere for statemented children. Where the Head made it quite clear to me in my meeting with him that any statemented child would be able to name Fortismere as their chosen school – there is a counter view that there is a strategy in here somewhere to reduce the number of statemented children coming to the school.

I do not know where the truth actually lies on these issues. What I do know is that we are talking about the future of a school, a wonderful school, where we need the Head, the Governors, the teachers and the parents and pupils to all support whatever route is taken for the future. Therefore, it is paramount that there is no equivocation around the truth. With so much conflicting information around, it would be helpful to have a written declaration of intent signed by the Head and Board of Governors which addresses all the concerns and on which the parents could then vote in a proper democratic ballot. Then whatever the settled will of the parents it would be a basis on which all could move forward together with a common understanding.