Towards a National Campaign for Education

This week's Education Question Time in Hammersmith which was organised by the Anti Academies Alliance and the group Towards a National Campaign for Education, arose out of a desire to bring together the various campaigner groups under one umbrella. Sharing experiences and strategies and building an alternative model for the organisation and content of education area clearly a formidable task but this meeting, attended by more than 400 people, made a start.

The need for such a campaign was made even more urgent by the news that Hammersmith and Fulham Council had voted to close the high achieving and popular local Sulivan Primary School in order to sells its site to a Fulham Boys' Free School. LINK

There will be a similar meeting in Brixton, South London on February 27th:

A chance to debate and ask questions about the key debates in education

Chaired by broadcaster and journalist Fiona Phillips.

The panel includes:
Professor Gus John, Institue of Education Jenny Landreth, Writer and local parent David Wolfe, Barrister, Matrix Chambers Lib Peck, Leader of Lambeth Council Jess Edwards, Teacher and coordinator of Charter for Primary Education

Register for tickets here: http://educationquestiontime.ticketsource.co.uk/
To ask questions in advance email us: TowardsNCE2014@virginmedia.com  or Direct message @nce2014 with hashtag #edqtime

SouthLondon_QT_27Feb14_A5 (1).pdf

Vital Education Question Time Meeting in New Year

Why are teachers striking? Is OFSTED a political tool? Do we need SATs? Why is there a shortage of school places? Are standards falling in our schools?

If you would like to propose questions for the panel to consider please use #edqtime @NCE2014

7pm, WEDNESDAY

22nd JANUARY 2014

CHAIR: Adrian Chiles ITV presenter and local parent

PANEL: Michael Rosen Children’s author and broadcaster 

Christine Blower National Union of Teachers General Secretary

Julian Bell Leader of Ealing Council

Government and local campaign speakers are invited

Everyone is welcome especially parents, governors and students

There is no charge for the event but please register for tickets at

 http://educationquestiontime.ticketsource.co.uk

Press contact: 07958 542872  Nickgrant2512@mac.com

Venue: St. Paul’s Church, Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, W6 9PJ 

Nearest tube: Hammersmith

Ealing Council opposes casualty closures and calls for fightback

Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council, has publicly opposes plans to close four casualty departments in  North- West London Hospitals, including that at Central Middlesex and called for a public fightback against them.

He told the Evening Standard yesterday:

When these half-baked plans were announced, all our worst fears were realised. It beggars belief that essential keath services like A and E could be cut nearly in half without damaging health care.

The council is committed to fighting these proposals but we need people power.  I want local people to join our campaign and to tell their friends and neighbours, relatives and colleagues to do the same. With a powerful single voice we can save our hospitals.

There were promising signs yesterday that Brent Council may follow when Cllr Krupesh Hirani, lead member for Adult Care and Health, released a series of tweets on Twitter:

• This hospital serves the poorest part of the Borough 
• The Tory Liberal move to close A&E at Central Middlesex Hospital is bad for Brent 
• If we were redesigning NHS services in Brent from scratch, we would have an A&E service at Central Middlesex Hospital