TUSC on the Lewisham anti-academies demo on 25 April 2015

TUSC on the Lewisham anti-academies demo on 25 April 2015   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

A highlight of TUSC’s Lewisham election campaign was the uplifting 25 April demonstration against turning schools into academies.

TUSC’s candidate in Lewisham West and Penge was Martin Powell Davies, secretary of National Union of Teachers (NUT) Lewisham branch. The local “Stop Academies in Lewisham” group organised the demo. Hundreds marched between two threatened local schools.

Most noticeable was the large number of school students and parents on the demonstration. The whole march was dominated by pink TUSC placards attacking the plans for academies.

Martin said the best way to plan local education is as part of a democratic local education authority. TUSC calls for the law to be changed so we can bring academies back into local authority control.

We were also fighting for parents and staff to be represented in decision-making alongside local councillors.

Martin said the NUT will step up action – including further strikes – before community ‘consultation’ ends on 8 June.

Roger Shrives, Lewisham Socialist Party