ELL EXCLUSIVE: Tidemill Primary School in Lewisham is to withdraw its application for academy status.
The decision was taken last night at a Governors’ meeting, according to Keith Geary, the Chair of the Board of Governors.
Mr Geary insisted that the academy plans remain in the “best interests” of the school in the long term.
The shock move follows a campaign to stop the school’s plans to gain academy status which was led by Leila Galloway, a parent at the school, with the support of the NUT (National Union of Teachers) and AAA (the Anti Academies Alliance). The campaign claims that over 150 parents have signed a petition against the plans. She had also threatened to seek a judicial review.
Ms Galloway told ELL: ‘This decision represents a victory for parents and local residents. Many people feel that the whole process has been rushed and important decisions made, without fully exploring the implications of such a profound and irreversible change.’
She has also claimed that headmaster, Mark Elms, is incorrect in suggesting that the school would benefit from £160,000 in additional funding as an academy, stating that the school has not fully costed services that would need to be outsourced.
Mr Elms, known as “Superhead”, achieved national prominence last year when it was disclosed that he received remuneration of over £276,000 in 2009, making him better paid than his opposite number at Eton College.
ELL understands that Tidemill Primary School plans to proceed with its application for academy status at some stage in the future, but will first address some of the concerns raised, including the issue of funding.
Mr Geary said: “I still believe that academy status is in the best interests of our school. We know what the challenge is against the plans and it is purely politically inspired.”
I think that Mr Keith Geary, needs to look at his own political views and motivations before commenting on other’s political views.
And if they are politically motivated, it is because we have views that are not about the privatisation of education, and removing any local accountability from the local community and Council. The self-aggrandizing of a “superhead”, with the complicit approval of a Board of Governors who purport to act in the interest of the community, deserves to be questioned and challenged.
Mr Jack Brown artist in residence at Tidemill School, and a Pro Academy Teacher explicitly said that the financial system were sound-this has been found to wanting in the light of recent developments, and me thinks, about the “purely politically inspired” comment Mr Keith Geary refers to when talking about the “temporary” withdrawal by the Board of Governors attempt to make Tidemill an Academy School.
And academies are not a political issue? Mr Michael Gove thinks not!, there are political intentions. Big business is looking to get peice of the action! Do we want the ‘Carpet Empire of Harris’ running our schools? I choose to think that there are larger forces at work other than Mr Keith Geary or Mr Mark Elms.
I am also intrigued by Mr Keith Geary comment “We know what the challenge is against the plans”. What are they? In the interest of democracy? Is the new plan about waiting till the furore dies down and rushing it through, and hoping that no one notices?
This was supposed to be a straightforward process, as we have had to hear on many occasions from Mr Mark Elms and Mr Keith Geary and their various voice-pieces.
And for someone who “knows” I am perplexed at their inability to add up or at least check that the figures were true.
What amazes me that during this campaign Mr Geary has misunderstood my drive. All I ever wanted was an open debate where we could discuss the proposal together. This never happened, I was repeatedly put down and targeted as being too political.
I care about the children of Deptford and to make such a fundamental change to the school needs scrutiny. Tidemill is a really good school why change it? As yet I have to be convinced of why becoming an academy is such a good idea?
Where are the teaching unions in all of this? what is the Local Education Authority doing? As a teacher I know just this kind of so called Superhead – They are nothing more than bully managers bought in to make sure the school profile is kept up to spec, in my experience this sort of management/leadership will lead to the school over applying for funding only to find they have oversubscribed themselves – the commitment to deliver will no doubt fall on the teachers at the school being asked to do more than their fair share in extra duties, for no extra incentives/pay, I would tell a Head to sod off who pressurised me into working unpaid during the holidays…recession or no recession teachers need some sort of spine!
Surrey Teacher
The Local Education Authority objected to this plan on the grounds that it was not in the best interests of Lewisham’s schools and that there were flaws in the proposal.
The Labour Group of Councillors for Lewisham made our opposition very
clear – see ELL article.
I hope that the Governors’ look very carefully at the financial implications.
The school has as yet not indicated in detail exactly why they have made this decision. They have simply said that they have received a ‘solicitors letter’.
I am in a position to tell you that the solicitors acting on behalf of myself have written to the school claiming that there were many flaws in the school’s proposal and consultation process.
The solicitor’s main objections were:
(1) The school failed to comply with its public sector equality duties: a legal binding requirement.
(2) The decision was taken on the basis of, and having considered, misleading and/or incorrect financial information and/or without proper steps being taken to obtain the information that was required properly to inform the decision. One glaring example was that the school estimated it would cost them £60,000 to pay for additional services normally provided by the LEA when in fact the DfE’s estimate was £78,000 and the LEA estimated the figure to be in excess of £229,000.
(3) The decision was taken in the light of a consultation process in which the information presented to consultees was misleading or incorrect.
(4) The decision was taken on a misunderstanding as to the basis on which parental views had been obtained.
We have already, as parents, written to Mark Elms and The Chair of Governors Keith Geary, giving them the opportunity to address these important points. So far they have simply indicated that the governing body would be ‘discussing this matter’
Dear Bruno
I did not say that.
Mr Jack Brown artist in residence at Tidemill School, and a Pro Academy Teacher explicitly said that the financial system were sound
It actually said.
“And I believe the extra money that comes directly to the school will be managed well.”
Thanks
Jack Brown.
Thank you for correcting me Mr Jack Brown,
it is a bit difficult to remember-when ‘you removed the pro academy comments’ you posted: on http://vimeo.com/15886820 last year.
So they “will be managed well”. Do you have financial/ accounting/ budget keeping skills? Me thinks not, but according to “YOU” “they will be well managed”, this “extra money”.
I thought that Bill Ellson made a telling comment, when previously, he said this in the eastlondonlines https://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2010/12/tidemill-opts-for-academy-status-despite-protests/
Bill Ellson says:
December 3, 2010 at 5:12 pm
“Perhaps the most depressing aspect of the entire process is the lack of any reasoning from the governors as to why they want to become an academy.
The consultation document document issued by the governors suggested that the school would get extra funds and be able to generate other extra funds, but Frankie Sulke-Children and Young People
Executive Director at Lewisham Council, in a measured and temperate response, clearly explained why that was not actually the case.
We might hope that the governors will now set out why they have decided to apply for academy status, but I fear we may have a very long wait.”
And you know what, we are still waiting… Again I will ask what does Jack Brown know that we don’t, or for that matter Mr Geary when he says: “I still believe that academy status is in the best interests of our school. We know what the challenge is against the plans and it is purely politically inspired.”
And harrassing parents with children who have special needs, by saying to them that funding will be lost if they do not kow-tow to Mr Mark Elms or Keith Geary’s academy ambitions. When the moneys promised, as a result of becoming an academy-never existed!
I do not think think that a simple accounting error has been made, it looks easy, but no one outside of the school heirachy-i.e.the parents/local community have seen these figures. But the school governors/Mark Elms/ Senior Management Team/ Lewisham Council have, this is not the BIG SOCIETY, BUT PRIVATISATION. Why so secretive? Businesses and private companies do not like opening their books under the guise of business secrecy etc, this only a Primary school!
We also get told that we need to get involved like this mug!: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/feb/01/big-society-lord-wei-volunteering
Hope this adds focus to already muddied waters at Tidemill
Bruno Sanhueza
@ Jack Brown
What is the difference?
Its sounds like another “Strap-line” or maybe even a leading statement a superhead would say – I can bet you half his wages he’s also said ” And I will do what is best for the school!” this reminds me of the Tony ‘Bliar’ years,
Please don’t fall into their hands Mr Brown you’ll find yourself fighting the Headteachers’ battles.
Thank you for correcting me Mr Jack Brown, it is a bit difficult to remember-when you removed the pro academy comments you posted: on http://vimeo.com/15886820 last year. So they “will be managed well”. Do you have financial/ accounting/ budget keeping skills?
I thought that Bill Ellson made a telling comment, when previously, he said this in the eastlondonlines;
Bill Ellson says:
December 3, 2010 at 5:12 pm
“Perhaps the most depressing aspect of the entire process is the lack of any reasoning from the governors as to why they want to become an academy.
The consultation document document issued by the governors suggested that the school would get extra funds and be able to generate other extra funds, but Frankie Sulke-Children and Young People
Executive Director at Lewisham Council, in a measured and temperate response, clearly explained why that was not actually the case.
We might hope that the governors will now set out why they have decided to apply for academy status, but I fear we may have a very long wait.”
And you know what, we are still waiting… Again I will ask what does Jack Brown know that we don’t, or for that matter Mr Geary when he says: “I still believe that academy status is in the best interests of our school. We know what the challenge is against the plans and it is purely politically inspired.”
I do not think think that a simple accounting error has been made, it looks easy, but no one outside of the school heirachy-i.e.the parents/local community have seen these figures. But the school governors/Mark Elms/ Senior Management Team/ Lewisham Council have, this is not the BIG SOCIETY, BUT PRIVATISATION. Why so secretive? Businesses and private companies do not like opening their books under the guise of business secrecy etc, this only a Primary school!
Ark (Absolute Return for Kids) acts as a funding agent for what is being implemented in schools (and not just academy schools) across the UK. This includes Future Leaders, and the Teens and Toddlers Sustainability Replication Programme.
More on this here, including links to Schilling’s solicitors letters in the comments section, at this location:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/06/454599.html
The ‘Opening Minds’ curriculum, now being implemented in the UK and Europe, and possibly through GEMS (Global Education Management Systems) in Dubai, who have now bought some of the UK Academy schools in particular 3es, whose parent company was Aecom, military and subcontracting to the pentagon);
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/05/480181.html