Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/579/7278
From The Socialist newspaper, 13 May 2009
Lewisham Bridge
PARENTS FIGHTING the closure of Lewisham Bridge primary school held a lively demonstration on 9 May in Lewisham town centre. Earlier that week, parents protested outside Prendergast school whose Leathersellers Company sponsors will probably take over the new 'all-age' 3-16 school planned to replace Lewisham Bridge.
Gordon Brown was speaking there on 'parent power'! Parents told Brown that they were already involved in their children's education and that some of them had joined a rooftop protest against their school's demolition.
Lewisham National Union of Teachers branch secretary Martin Powell-Davies pointed out that "If Gordon wants to listen to parents, he could start by telling Lewisham council to scrap its plan that would demolish Lewisham Bridge school and hand over the site to Prendergast.
"Far from increasing parent power, handing over schools to form Trust federations reduces parental representation on the governing body. Elected parental places are replaced by places appointed by the Trust.
"Teachers and parents should work together to put blame where it really lies - with a government that wants to break up local authority schools and ignore local objections".
This campaign's plans now focus on a council motion being submitted by Socialist Party councillors Ian Page and Chris Flood that calls for the postponement of any decision to demolish Lewisham Bridge school.
The Defend Education in Lewisham campaign will lobby the council meeting at the Town Hall, Catford at 6.30pm on Wednesday 20 May.
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In The Socialist 13 May 2009:
Thieving MPs
MPs live it up at our expense !
Socialist Party editorial
Sweep away the thieves and their system
Socialist Party news and analysis
Corus jobs slaughter - fight the closure
Linamar and Visteon
Linamar sack Swansea trade union leader
A victory at Linamar would be a victory for all workers
Visteon workers discuss socialism
Socialist Party election campaign
No2EU - Yes to Democracy campaign news
Youth fight for jobs
Youth Fight for Jobs Launch conference
International socialist news and analysis
Imperialism sucked deeper into Afghan quagmire
Socialist Party workplace news
Defending jobs and conditions at the Olympics site
Defending jobs and conditions at Fiddlers Ferry
Wales TUC: For trade union democracy and for trade union rights!
PCS conference: A fighting union that defends its members
NSSN - fight the bosses' offensive
NSSN Conference: Saturday 27 June
Marxist analysis: history
Education
Save our schools Weston Favell, Northampton
Lewisham Bridge primary school
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