Tower Hamlets school to be taken over by university bosses

TOWN Hall bosses last night rubber stamped plans for an East End school to be taken over by a trust of university chiefs in an attempt to improve its exam results. St Paul s Way Community School in Bow will become the first in the borough to be a Nation

TOWN Hall bosses last night rubber stamped plans for an East End school to be taken over by a trust of university chiefs in an attempt to improve its exam results.

St Paul's Way Community School in Bow will become the first in the borough to be a National Challenge Trust School from next month after members of Tower Hamlets council's Cabinet gave the go-ahead.

The school, where only 29 per cent of kids received five A*-C GCSE grades last year, will be handed over with its staff and assets to an educational trust which will consist of council chiefs and bosses from at least three different universities.

The council says the move will improve pupils' education, particularly with the school receiving �750,000 from the Government.

But members of Unison raised concerns last night that the move could badly affect support staff, including teaching assistants and student supervisors, who are still facing job cuts.

Speaking after the meeting Unison branch secretary, John McLoughlin said: "Our concern is that it will mean that staff are being transferred out of public authority employment.

"There is currently a review going on of all support staff and we are asking for the school to delay the move until this is completed.