Protestors outside Tidemill Primary School. Photo: Leila Galloway
Angry parents have staged a protest outside a Deptford school, as part of a campaign against plans to apply for academy status.
The protest outside Tidemill Primary School yesterday came following the disclosure that the school was planning on renewing its application for academy status. Its original application for academy status was withdrawn last November after facing fierce opposition from parents.
A letter from the governors at the school, released last Friday, stated that they were willing to apply for academy status and that they hoped “discussion with parents can respect in a respectful way.”
Leila Galloway, mother of two pupils at Tidemill and leader of the “Deptford Says No” campaign criticised the school: “Governors were forced to withdraw their original application following a parental challenge about the lack of information and the misinformation provided,” she said.
“Yet this time the school has paid for a consultant to produce a document which still shows no clear case of the benefits for academy conversion.
“I am deeply disappointed that the governors are considering this proposal again and at a loss to why they want to push this through when so many parents and the local community object,” she added.
A spokesperson for the Lewisham branch of the National Union of Teachers backed the campaign: “The financial analysis placed on the school website is highly questionable and we will be writing to governors to explain how it falsely exaggerates the financial benefits to the school in becoming an academy.
“It is certainly of no benefit to education as a whole, just helping the Government to push through its agenda of privatising public services,” they said.
Two meetings are planned with parents so the school can explain its position, one which is taking place this evening and another on Saturday morning.
Tidemill were not available for comment.
I would like to add that I met a teacher-Mr Jack Brown, who is in favour of Tidemill becoming and Academy. I met Mr. Brown on the Anti Cuts demonstration being held in central London on Sat 26th March. I asked him how this was compatible and he explained it just was so. I tried to explain to him that Academies are about privitisation, still he insisted that it is possible to be anti cuts and support privitisation!!?? Obviously he does not understand the basic principles of market economy and state/local authority control support for schools and education in general.
But moving on, I thought it necessary to highlight the ‘knowledge’ and ‘insight’ from a supporter and proponent of Tidemill being converted into an Academies.
What is interesting and frustrating is the fact that very little concrete/relevant information is available, to actually discuss the ‘merits’ of Tidemill becoming an academy. This is not helped by statements, such the one listed below.
“A letter from the governors at the school, released last Friday, stated that they were willing to apply for academy status and that they hoped “discussion with parents can respect in a respectful way.” For a start what this mean? It is really bad English, this is from an ‘outstanding school’!!
This also insinuates that discussions have not been cordial?…Or that anyone who has differing views about Tidemill becoming an academy-does not discuss this in a respectful way!
Tidemill senior management team and the Parents Governors Commitee are SCARED of having a public meeting to discuss in an open and frank manner their plans for the school.
Why should we local people trust these people to care about local childrens education? When they cannot be honest, understand that this is not about the childrens needs, but their own selfish/arrogant desire to take away a local resource from the community for their own ends which are nothing to do with childrens betterment.