Barry Gardiner MP at the community demonstration against academisation
Parents and staff opposing the forced academisation of Byron Court Primary School after a poor Ofsted will be cheered by support from the London Region of the National Education Union.
The union is critical of the conduct of the Ofsted inspection and distress that it caused to staff and challenges some of the judgements made. The timing of the inspection meant that staff were not protected by Ofsted guidance on the wellbeing of staff that was later introduced.
The union supports the view that the school has begun to address the issues raised by Ofsted and has shown that it is capable of demonstrating that it can offer the high quality education that all children deserve without recourse to forced academisation. They call for a re-inspection by Ofsted to assess this claim and if proved correct to revoke the Academy Order. This has happened in the case of 22 schools.
More than 1,000 people have signed the petition opposing academisation and a takeover by the Harris Federation while NEU members at the school have voted to progress to industrial action over their potential transfer to a new employer.
