A Capital plan for school

Jul 25 2007 By Tony Collins, Birmingham Mail

CONCERNS that a private business consortium might gain control of a Birmingham school have been dismissed after a college was given the job of running it.

A consortium led by Richardsons Capital, the company founded by tycoon twins Don and Roy, will still provide most of the £2 million sponsorship needed to turn Kings Norton High into an academy.

But it has now emerged that Government ministers want South Birmingham College, which has a leading construction industry training centre in Bordesley, to take responsibility for running it.

The college is now expected to submit an Expression of Interest - the official stage in the process before the Government enters into public consultation.

Mike Hopkins, the new principal of South Birmingham College, based in Hall Green, met government education officials recently to thrash out details of the proposed academy.

He said: "What the Department for Education is looking for is a sponsor and a partner.

"Richardsons will come up with the money but they don't want them to effectively run a school, so they want us to be the partner.

"We already work very well with Kings Norton High and have a lot of expertise and a lot more resources to help."

Mr Hopkins said the intention for Kings Norton was for it to become a centre for "low-level construction teaching".

It is thought that Richardsons, now run by Roy's three sons, would put in around £1.5 million, with other firms in the consortium putting in the remaining £500,000.

The £750 million schools rebuilding programme will also see education charities ARK and Edutrust take control of four academies, with ARK sponsoring Harborne Hill and St Alban's CofE, and Edutrust responsible for The Heartlands High and Shenley Court.

Sponsors are still being sought for The College High and Sheldon Heath schools.