ARK currently run 4 schools in London but seems to be having resistance opening their next school in Wembley. Local residents and school staff have occupied the land of the proposed building site, a community sports ground, for over 6 months. The venture capitalists, headed by Arki Busson, (a French multi-millionaire playboy who’s recently engaged to actress Uma Thurman) also plan to open 2 academies in Birmingham by 2009 and another in Redbridge by 2012 with plans for many more.

Birmingham City Council have now agreed that ARK are unacceptable for the children and staff at Harborne Hill. ARK will no longer be sponsoring the proposed Harborne Academy. Yet despite all this, Birmingham City Council still promotes ARK as a sponsor for the proposed Academy at St Alban’s School! If Birmingham City Council agrees that ARK are not right for Harborne Hill, why do they think that ARK are acceptable for the students, teachers and other staff at St Alban’s?

The debacle at Harborne Hill proves the danger of handing our schools over to unaccountable interest groups. ARK are not acceptable for our schools, and Academies not acceptable for our kids.