The Government is forcing Unity College and Weston Favell Upper School in Northampton to become Academies. This is because they have both been placed in the Government's National Challenge programme for schools that have not achieved a target of having 30% of their students achieving at least five A to C grades at GCSE level (including English and Maths).
However the Government has failed to take into consideration that both these schools are just recovering from a tremendous period of change. Firstly the move from three tier to two tier and then both have had massive school rebuilding projects.
We believe that both schools need a period of stability rather than further upheaval to allow them to strive to improve  examination results. Weston Favell has actually reached the target with its latest set of results and Unity College is very close.
In addition the move towards an Academy would create at Weston Favell two schools sponsored by United Learning Trust next to each other (the current Northampton Academy being sponsored by ULT). This would reduce choice for parents in Northampton East as both schools would be christian faith led in an area that is very diverse. Unity College is currently a faith school and is proposed to become a David Ross Foundation Academy (the co-founder of Carphone Warehouse).

Whilst the Conservative controlled County Council is making the initial decision about the proposals ultimately it will be up to the Government, and Secretary of State Ed Balls MP to decide.

So please sign our petition below to the Minister.