An intensive week of parent action ahead on forced academies

Parents are taking on the dictator

 Following the formation last  week of an umbrella parents' campaigning group Parents Against Forced Academies (PAFA), this week will see the most intensive action yet opposing Michael Gove's policy of forced academies.

On Tuesday there is a Westminster Hall debate by MPs on the issue of forced academies. Ian Mearns Labour MP for Gateshead told the Save Gladstone Park Parents Action Group:

Let me start by saying that I am firmly opposed to forced academisation. I think school improvement is a vitally important process, but it is not contingent upon schools changing their status and becoming academies, but as you will already be aware that is not a view shared by the Secretary of State and his supporters. Interestingly the Chief inspector of schools, who heads up Ofsted, Sir Michael Wilshaw, is on record as telling the Education Select Committee that academisation was not the recommended model for Primary Schools, given the different economies of scale for Primary’s, as opposed to their Secondary counterparts.

However, the dilemma is that many dozens of schools now are in a similar position to your own, and unless there is some coming together of the schools who are opposed to this process, I can only see the schools being picked off and ground down by the process.

John Pugh’s debate in Westminster Hall on Tuesday is only a debate where Minister’s are made aware of the concerns of Members of Parliament and their constituents about various matters. It does not form part of the legislative process, but can be important in terms of getting issues on the record and a formal Ministerial response.

As a member of the Education Select Committee we are constantly trying to hold Ministers to account to justify their policies and the way in which they are implemented by the Department; and you can be rest assured that I will continue to thoroughly scrutinise all policies by the Government.

On Wednesday March 13th the Gladstone Park parents will be assembling at 3.15pm in the Year 3-4 playground at the school to travel down to Victoria together to join the NUT organised  'Gove Must Go' from Cathedral Piazza (assemble 5pm) to march to the DfE. Roke Primary campaigners will also be joining the march.

On Tuesday March 19th  Roke Parents will lobby the Harris Federation who are the academies group chosen by Michael Gove to become Roke Primary';s sponsor. Lord Harris is a major donor to Tory Party funds. The lobby is at 4.30pm outside the Harris HQ, opposite the Whitgift Centre, a few minites from East Croydon station. (Brent residents can get there directly from Wembley Central Station on Southern Trains - they run hourly at 6 minutes to the hour). Full address 4th Floor, Norfolk House, Wellesley Road, CRO 1LH7

Not content with that on Saturday March 16th  parents from the Downhills, Roke and Gladstone Park campaigns against forced academies will be guest speakers at the Anti Academies Alliance Annual General Meeting in London.

The Guardian describes the DfE broker's behaviour HERE