Parents of children with special needs at a failing school have expressed doubts it can be improved by merging it with a nearby academy school.

Last week, the Wimbledon Guardian revealed Bishopsford Arts College in Morden was set to fail its latest Ofsted inspection and Merton Council was in talks with Harris Academy Merton to take it over.

But, in response to the news, several parents have come forward with concerns that Harris, based in Mitcham, will not be able to cater for their children who have special needs and learning disabilities.

In Bishopsford’s last school inspection in April 2009, it was praised for moving in the right direction but criticised for having poor student attendance and weak progress among students with learning difficulties.

Adam Johnson said: “I looked at the Harris school for my child who is a slow learner and felt that the school would not give my child the education because he did not fit in one of their groups.

"The one thing I observed is that all the Harris schools are the same.”

Another parent said: “I agree that the school has had difficulties but both of my children are doing very well here and I have no issues with their education.

She added: "I am pretty sure there are other Academy sponsors out there that can give our children the best possible education and the support that they need.

“If I had wanted my children to go to Harris I would have sent them there in the first place.”

Results of the latest inspection have not yet been published by Ofsted or the Department of Education, but it is understood that Bishopsford has failed in each category inspected.

Harris, formerly Tamworth Manor school and based in Wide Way, Mitcham, opened in 2006 and is part of the Harris Federation of two primary and 12 secondary academies in south London.

The schools are all sponsored by Lord Harris of Peckham, who is investing about £2m into them.

Merton Council’s cabinet member for education, Councillor Peter Walker, said he was waiting for the Department of Education to publish a formal notice on its website that Bishopsford was being put in special measures.

On the issue of providing for children with special needs, he said: “We have put a lot of resources into helping kids with special educational needs and that includes a wide spectrum of challenges.

“Schools like Cricket Green and Melrose have vastly improved and we have the excellent Perseid school too.

“I want to ensure sure that, whatever form the new Bishopsford takes, that enough help is there too for children with special needs.”

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