THE head of Hampton Community College will keep her job if proposals to turn the school into an academy go ahead.
Richmond Council education chiefs announced that Sue Demont will be the principal of the Hanworth Road School, even if Swedish education company Kunskapsskolan get the go-ahead to take it over in 2010.
The council wants to turn three schools – HCC, Shene and Whitton – into independent schools run by sponsors in conjunction with the council. A consultation into the plans is set to take place this autumn, with a decision due by November.
Parents will receive a brochure about how HCC would be run under Kunskapsskolan in September.
Dr Demont, who has visited some of the company's Swedish schools, was interviewed by the council and representatives from Kunskapsskolan and her appointment was announced last week.
She said:"I am very excited by the possibilities afforded by the Kunskapsskolan model and look forward to adopting and adapting the good practice I saw in Sweden to match the educational needs to the young people of Hampton."
Nick Whitfield, director of children’s services and culture at Richmond Council welcomed the appointment but said the academy plan was not yet a certainty. "I am delighted that Dr Dermot will be able to continue the excellent work that she has undertaken during her four years as principal," he said.
"The academy is not a done deal, however this appointment gives the school and parents absolute clarity over leadership whether the school becomes an academy or not. I believe that Dr Demont is the right person to lead the proposed implementation of Kunskapsskolan's exciting personalised model of education at HCC.
"Dr Dermont and her colleagues at HCC have been working hard with Kunskapsskolan to produce a plan for transition to the proposed academy in 2010.
"If the proposed academy gets the approval of local people Dr Demont's detailed knowledge of how the school operates at present would be combined with Kunskapsskolan's innovation to make the school outstanding and the natural first preference for parents in the Hamptons."
