A new sponsor for Shene School’s academy bid could be named before the end of July.

But concern has been raised that if the decision over who should help run the Park Avenue school is rushed, Richmond Council might ignore community feeling.

The authority’s children’s services overview and scrutiny committee is due to meet on Tuesday to discuss a list of possible sponsors provided by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, which includes Richmond College and St Mary’s University College.

The committee will also review how quickly the process can progress to ensure the school becomes an academy - a sponsored new all-ability state school - in September 2010.

Founder of the Parent Promoted Foundation for Barnes, Mortlake and Sheen, Paul Mason said: “It is great that local institutions are getting involved but my big thing is the community has a proper say in the process and whether we are just rushing it through for the sake of it.

“Is there really enough time to consult fully with the community, school and other interested parties?

“It seems to me there is already an idea in motion that we cannot stop and we had that problem with Edutrust.”

MP for Richmond Park, Susan Kramer, is backing a community-led approach and said she was “particularly attracted” to involvement by borough educational institutions.

Cabinet member for children's services, Councillor Malcolm Eady, said he wanted to go to Schools Minister Jim Knight with a proposed sponsor in July to guarantee the Government money ring-fenced for the East Sheen secondary was not put in doubt.

He added: “The timescale we have set ourselves has been around stabilising the school.

“It’s got to be fair on the school and the parents of children looking to start in September 2010.

“We have got to be able to provide those parents with a firm indication of where we are going.”

Coun Eady referred to Richmond College and St Mary’s as possible “academic partners rather than full sponsors” and said the council “would probably not even approach” other names on the list - including Kingston University, Esher College and Roehampton University.

He confirmed discussions would take place throughout June with all interested parties in the community.

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