ARK the errant angel sings

In what he described as his 'swan song', John Christie outgoing director of Brent Children and Families, warned governors at the Brent Governors Conference to think very carefully about making a decision on their schools becoming academies - despite the government's letter to headteacher of 'oustanding ' schools which enables them to change status by September this year.

Christie said that they should take time to assess the impact on other schools and the services provided centrally by the local authority; to whom schools would be accountable; and how a decision to go for academy status would fit in with provision of the National Curriculum. Although there is no statutory responsibility to do so, he said schools shoudl consult with staff, pupils, parents and the local community. He said there was insufficient information available at present and that issues such as where accountability rests (local authority, national government, Ofsted) need to be thought through. Christie read a letter from Michael Gove extolling the virtues of local authorities and their role in improving schools and contrasted that with his rhetoric of 'freedom from local authority control'. He said press reports on the financial advantages of academy status, with figures quoted of up to 10% extra funding, were only speculation, but such a shift would have a significant impact on central services.

On 'free schools', with the government encouraging new providers, he commented that a Brent survey of local residents had indicated strong support for schools to be provided by the local authority rather than charities, religious groups or businesses. He welcomed the concept of a pupil premium, with extra funds going to disadvantaged pupils, and said Brent should benefit. In the absence of a White Paper on the proposed policies he urged governors to respond to Michael Gove's letter inviting views.

 John Christie was challenged from the floor by  Reg Colwill, Conservative member of the previous Council Executive, on why he had come to the Executive and recommended the Wembley ARK Academy, when he had just listed the disadvantages. He had never advised the Council against academies. When Christie struggled to respond Bob Wharton, Liberal Democrat member of the previous Lib Dem-Conservative adminstration and responsible for Children and Families, jumped in to say it was the only way to get £35m in funding for a new school in Brent. Unfortunately the Conference was closed for lunch at that point and the debate was left in mid-air.

The issue of academies had been in the foreground of earlier discussions with Cllr Mary Arnold, lead member on Children and Families of the new Labour Council, saying at worst the policy was a threat to central services and all the support they provided to schools.  Denise Burke, interim head of Brent Integrated and Extended Services, who gave a keynote speech was asked whether schools should go for academy status, and took her official Brent hat off to say as Chair of Governors of Miles Coverdale Primary in Shepherds Bush that schools 'shouldn't go near it', winning a warm round of applause.

Alan Carter, of the Campaign for the Advancement of State Education, said he was opposed to academies because of their terms of governance which were unacountable and undemocratic. He said that previously academies had one merit, that they were targeted at helping deprived pupils and unsuccessful schools, but this had been transmogrified into academy status for the most successful schools, This would result in a 'grab for cash' which would work entirely against equality. He offered a CASE speaker to governing bodies who would give an objective presentation on the issue.

One significant issue that did not come out during the sessions was that Michael Goves had written to headteachers with the offer of academy status, by-passing governing bodies who are statutorily responsible for the strategic directioon of their schools. If change of status is not a strategic issue what is? This betrayed at best an ignorance of the present democratic arrangements, and at worst a contempt for them. Peter Newsam, ex-leader of the Inner London Authority has recently suggested that academies and free schools should rightly be called 'Goverment Schools'. Because of their funding arrangements they will be directly under the control of the government.

EDL Oppose Peaceful Dialogue

The English Defence League are apparently considering coming to Wembley to demonstrate against a conference aimed at building understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims.

The conference due to be held at the Wembley Arena on June 26th, is the Al-Khair Peace Convention 2010  and  its aims are set out on their website:

"Peace, internal and external be it on an 'individual' or at a 'worldwide collective' level is a must for effective human progress and realistic global unity.

For people of all beliefs, this conference will be a learning opportunity to realize, reflect on and correct their misunderstanding (if any) about Islam in the light of talks by authoritative and renowned international speakers.

Conference Focus
* To create a better awareness and understanding of Islam and its message of peace for the entire humanity, in an objective way.
* To remove misconceptions, false fear and hate of Islam and Muslims globally.
* To realize that Islam is a just, righteous and peaceful way of life, with due care for human rights and moral values."


The fact that the EDL wants to protest at an attempt at dialogue speaks for itself. How to combat the EDL's unwelcome presence in Wembley will be discussed over the next few days by Brent and Harrow Unite Against Fascism and other organisations.  I will post updates here as soon as I have them.

The organisers of the Convention have said that they will go ahead and that they are confident of their security arrangements. 

The Fightback Starts Here

Cuts will do more harm than good

The Coalition, supported by the media and with apparent tacit support from Labour, have been very successful in marginalising, to the point of invisibility, any view that there is an alternative to massive public sector cuts.

It was therefore refreshing to see a letter in the London Evening Standard from Professor James K Galbraith, son of renowned economist John Kenneth Galbraith, on Tuesday that questioned this approach.

After suggesting that Cameron's speech, which appeared to almost relish the cuts,  was 'tactical hyperbole' with the 'dual aim of blaming Labour and foreshadowing relief when the final cuts don't prove quite as bad as expected',  he says the cuts that will be made will 'do enormous damage and little good':

"The basic problem is that public spending is part of economic output pound for pound. Cutting it cuts into incomes and therefore the tax base. Deficits cannot be controlled this way but only when private credit or export demand booms to create full employment.

But where does the Prime Minister - as he targets housing benefits, for instance - imagine that demand for private credit will come from? The UK in 2010 is hardly America in 1933, a housing bubble waiting to happen. And where will export demand come from, as a rising pound depresses competitiveness while Europe sinks into depression?

David Cameron claims a horror of rising interest payments. He'll get those anyway because deficits will not fall as planned as the slump deepens. But he'll get them with more misery and fewer jobs, than he could have had with a policy of growth and constructive reform. And he seems to expect that people will be grateful."

For Greens this of course raises the whole issue of the nature of 'growth' and our preference for  growth based on a Green New Deal and the construction of a low carbon economy rather than a return to mindless consumerism.

Brent's Director of Education to Retire

John Christie, Director of Brent Children and Families, has announced his imminent retirement a few days before he is due to address Brent Governors at their annual conference which is being held on Friday at the Wembley Plaza.  The theme of his address? 'The Future in Brent'.

Christie, who will retire from September 6th after 8 years in Brent, says that this is a good time for a new appointment with a new council, a new government, and new challenges. These will include redundancies and conditions of employment changes, which have already been set in motion by Christie in his department.  There will be intensive pressure on schools, including primaries, to seek academy status with the incentive of up to 10% increase in funding from monies that are presently withheld by the Council to provide central education support services. There will be a consequent loss of funding to non-academy schools and deterioration in support services. This will force schools to buy in support from the private sector.  In  addition cuts in  central government funding for particular programmes which went directly to schools will mean that schools will have to either end those programmes or pay for them from their depleted funds.

Christie started his career in Brent with a great deal of goodwill.  His quiet and friendly approach was in stark contrast to his abrasive and divisive predecessor. During the hiatus after the hung  election in 2006, when the political parties failed to negotiate a new administration and officers ran the council, he continued to push the previous Labour administration's academy policy. When the Liberal Democrats belatedly formed a coalition with the Conservatives, they were persuaded to ditch their opposition to the Wembley Academy that had formed part of their election manifesto, on the basis that there was no alternative. The Conservatives were opposed to an academy on the Wembley Playing Fields site, however their failure to secure a written 'double majority' agreement (a policy only goes forward if a majority of councillors in each of the coalition parties agree it) meant that the Lib Dems out-voted the Tories on academy policy, and anyway had the support of the Labour councillors on this particular policy.

The decision to go ahead with the academy created a huge wave of opposition uniting local residents, trade unionists, Brent headteachers, Barry Gardiner MP and Bob Blackman, then leader of the Conservative group on the council and now a Tory MP.

Opposition was on varied grounds:
Objection in principle to the privatisation of state funded schooling, concern over the shady nature of the first sponsor, opposition to the loss of green space, concern over the impact on the local residential area, the possibility of conflicts between academy pupils and those from the nearby Preston Manor High School.  A constant theme, which continues, was the argument that a new secondary school was needed in South Brent, rather than the North.  As the planning process began the limited nature of the consultation also became an issue. Christie found himself faced with opposition at consultation meetings and the occupation of the playing fields by a Tent City (above).

Christie attempted to take on Hank Roberts, NUT and ATL activist, and one of the leaders of the Anti-Academy campaign threatening to end the agreement whereby the Authority paid for his cover whilst he was engaged in union duties. Eventually through a series of legal cases and with the Parks department taking over security at the playing field, campaigners were removed from the site and the council rushed through planning permission for a temporary primary school.

Planning permission for the permanent, all-though academy, now sponsored by ARK who are funded by a hedge fund speculator, followed. As building work began John Christie was faced with Hank Roberts on another front. Roberts whistle blew on financial mismanagement and alleged nepotism at his own school, Copland in Wembley, which led to suspensions, resignations and sackings. The situation raised serious issues about the role of the Brent Children and Families Department and the effectiveness of their monitoring of school financial management.

John Christie began as Director of Education in Brent but following the re-organisation of Children's Serrvices, which joined education and children's social work in one department, he became Director of Children and Families, taking on responsibility for children's social work, child protection, safeguarding and other similar areas. This was a huge extension of responsibility and the pressure on someone from the 'education side' must have been enormous. The Baby P case and the lessons to be learned from it loomed large in all local authorities and Christie was instrumental in introducing changes aimed at increasing the effectiveness of processes and multi-agency work in the borough.

Despite these difficulties Christie retains a considerable amount of goodwill and can point to many improvements in Children and Family services under his watch including the fact that Brent educational standards, as measured by examination results, are better than those of many similar authorities and a more stable and responsive approach to children's social needs.

Although policy is in theory made by councillors, the Director of Children and Families (or possibly Director of Education if Brent follows the Coalition example of separating the roles again) is extremely powerful and his or her educational philosophy and perspective on current educational issues vitally important. Will the  Labour Council appoint someone with the ability to stand up for children and schools, with an independent mind and the strength to resist government pressure; or will they appoint someone who will manage 'efficiency savings' and implement poorly thought out 'innovations' and in the process oversee the deterioration of Brent's education system?

Action on the Gaza Flotilla

 FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS FROM THE MAVI MARMARA

A public rally to hear first-hand what actually happened aboard the Mavi Marmara  is being held tomorrow.The meeting will feature several activists from the Gaza flotilla along with other speakers. 7pm on Wednesday 9th June in Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London

Called by PSC and Viva Palestina with Trade Unions and other support

SIGN PETITION

Following Israel's attack on the Gaza aid flotilla, Avaaz.org has launched a global petition calling for an immediate, international investigation into the flotilla assault, full accountability for those responsible, and the lifting of the Gaza blockade. Please sign and circulate it. “investigate the raid, end the blockade”

Petition HERE

LOBBY YOUR MP

Please ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 127 - Israel and the Gaza flotilla.

The motion, which has cross-party sponsorship, condemns Israel's attack on the aid convoy, supports the UN's call for an independent enquiry, and demands an immediate end to the blockade of Gaza.

 

Follow this link http://www.psc.iparl.com/lobby/50 to use PSC's  lobby tool, which takes less than two minutes

Jewish Boat Sailing Soon for Gaza

In a harbour in the Mediterranean (we're not yet disclosing which one) a small vessel is waiting for a special mission. She will be sailing to Gaza. In order to avoid sabotage, the exact date and name of the port of departure will be announced only shortly before her launch.

"Our purpose is to call an end to the siege of Gaza, to this illegal collective punishment of the whole civilian population. Our boat is small, so our donations can only be symbolic: we are taking school bags, filled with donations from German school children, musical instruments and art materials. For the medical services we are taking essential medicines and small medical equipment, and for the fishermen we are taking nets and tackle. We are liaising with the medical, educational and mental health services in Gaza..

''In attacking the Freedom Flotilla, Israel has once again demonstrated to the world a heinous brutality. But I know that there are very many Israelis who compassionately and bravely campaign for a just peace. As broadcasting journalists from mainstream television programmes are accompanying our boat, Israel will have a great chance to show the world that there is another way, a way of courage not fear, a way of hope not hate'', says Edith Lutz, one of the organizers and passenger on the ''Jewish boat''.

The ''Jüdische Stimme'' (Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Near East), along with her friends of EJJP (European Jews for a Just Peace in the Near East) and Jews for Justice For Palestinians (UK) are sending a call to the leaders of the world to help Israel find her way back to reason, a sense of humanity and a life without fear. ''Jewish Voices'' expects the political leaders of Israel and the world to guarantee a safe passage for the small vessel to Gaza, thus helping to form a bridge towards peace.

Contacts:

Edith Lutz, EJJP-Germany  +15204519740

Kate Leiterer, EJJP- Germany  +1629660472472

Glyn Secker, Jews for Justice For Palestinians (UK) 

Quintain still in the red

Quintain Estates and Development, developers of Wembley City, reported this week that it was still in the red in the year up to March 2010.

Although it has reduced its losses to £10.1m, from the high of £129.1m in 2009, its shares still slid by 6% in initial trading. Its net asset value fell back by 1.5%. The company was forced to sell off some of its assets for a total of £82.5m and cut administrative costs by 12.4%.

The value of its Wembley City properties, ear-marked for development of shops restaurants, bars, offices, entertainment and homes, continue to flat-line and have not bounced back following the property slump in line with other London property prices. Last year Quintain was in talks in the Middle East to off-load some of its Wembley properties.

The newly elected Brent council will need to monitor Quintain's activities closely and pay particular regard to infrastructure improvements that were part of the initial deal including new schools and health facilities. They need to ensure that these are costed and included in Quintain's plans, rather than placed on the back burner or quietly shelved on grounds of affordability.