Lead sponsor of the Academy is the Diocese of Rochester which explains on the academy website that its expertise is in successful schools in Bromley, Bexley and Tunbridge Wells, very different contexts from urban Chatham. The school website lays great importance on setting the very highest standards for behaviour, learning and achievement, and on its Christian ethos. So far there is little sign of these values permeating through to the school. Medway Council is also a sponsor, and must be concerned about the number of failing schools in the area. Of the fourteen governors, eight are appointed by the Diocese of Rochester, giving them absolute control of the Academy. There is just one parent governor of the Academy - secondary schools normally have around six. It is most unlikely that a single person will carry sufficient weight to influence policy. Likewise there is a single staff governor apart from the Principal. Above them sits an Academy Trust which has four members appointed by the Diocese, and three other members.

One of the problems is that Academies are often set up so that the sponsors "make decisions for the children" from their elevated position and there is often far less involvement of parents and teachers in the governance of the Academy.   Parents were certainly cautious from the beginning, the Academy opening with over a quarter of its places left empty, the highest number of any Medway non selective school, although no worse than half of the other eighteen old style Academies across Kent and Medway. I was asked on Radio Kent this morning about whether discipline in Kent schools is getting worse. Obviously I am not an expert in such matters, my information coming mainly from parental concerns and comments but what is apparent is that leadership is the key factor. That is not just the leadership of the headteacher or Principal but also of governors and, except for Academies, the Local Authority which should have a role.My greatest concern however, is for the children caught up in the controversy whose education and life chances are being damaged, because of the failures of others. Please make no mistake, I accept that discipline is more difficult in many schools, but one is always aware of schools in difficult social areas where good leadership ensures that such problems are minimised.

One question often asked is why the two schools had to merge. Quite simply, pupil numbers are falling sharply in Medway and schools will inevitably have to close or amalgamate. This year, there will be a 10% fall in the number of Year Seven pupils in Medway from 2010.

Company Secretary for the Academy is Rose Collinson, Director of Chidren's Service for Medway Council. One wonders how she has the time!