NUT backs Tidemill protesters

Crosswhatfields is in receipt of a letter penned by the NUT executive in support of parents who oppose plans to make Tidemill Primary an Academy school....as follows:

The Government’s plans to encourage ‘outstanding’ schools to take a fast-track to ‘Academy’ status are a threat to the future of comprehensive Local Authority schooling. They could introduce a fragmented two-tier education system where ‘successful’ schools opt-out of the Local Authority, taking money with them as they go, leaving cash-starved Councils with the schools - and pupils - that need most help.

Fortunately, may schools have held back from rushing into becoming Academies in September – but not all.  In Lewisham, it is TIDEMILL SCHOOL IN DEPTFORD that is rushing onwards – yes, that’s the same school that hit the headlines when it was revealed that its Headteacher, Mark Elms, was paid over £ ¼ million in 2009/10 (does the school really need to grab even more money if it can afford to pay a primary head that much?).

Under pressure, the Government has conceded that parents should be consulted over plans to become an Academy – but Tidemill’s timetable shows how limited that ‘consultation’ can be. As last term drew to a close, Tidemill children were handed a letter for parents on July 19th saying that the governors were consulting for two months (i.e. over the summer holidays) before governors make a decision early in September!

BUT SOME PARENTS HAVE NOT BEEN PREPARED TO ACCEPT THIS SHAM CONSULTATION – NOW THEIR CAMPAIGN URGENTLY NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Tidemill parents made sure leaflets opposing the plan were given out at the school gates before the end of term.  An inaugural meeting of “Tidemill Parents Against Academies” was held over the summer and, with the support of the NUT and Anti-Academies Alliance, leafleting has already taken place in Deptford with a lot of support from local residents and parents. Local councillors are now beginning to ask questions – but time is tight to put enough pressure on the governors to hold back.

PLEASE SUPPORT THESE EVENTS:

1.     A PUBLIC MEETING HAS BEEN ORGANISED FOR MONDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER AT 7PM AT THE ALBANY, DOUGLAS WAY, SE8 4AG (see leaflet).

2.     LEAFLETTING FOR THE MEETING will be taking place on WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 1st and SATURDAY 4th SEPTEMBER from MIDDAY in DEPTFORD MARKET.

3.     A PETITION demanding full consultation before any decision has also been produced and can be signed at sayingno.org/cms/ or www.gopetition.com/petition/38021.html

Contact the campaign for further info on: admin@sayingno.org or 020 8692 8939

Please pass on this email to others who may be interested.

Martin Powell-Davies

Many apologies for calling the NUT the TUC (corrected as of 4pm, 31st August).