Protest defeats millionaire’s academy
THE DAY before the picket we’d organised at Debenham’s, the news came
through. Millionaire Jasper Conran, designer of fashions, homeware,
jewellery and fragrances could now no longer add McEntee Secondary
School in east London to his long list of assets.
Linda Taaffe
A vigorous campaign by Waltham Forest parents, support staff and
teachers, backed up by NUT, UNISON and TGWU unions, had forced him to
withdraw as sponsor of one of Blair’s proposed academies.
In their efforts to entice business people into their programme of
privatising education, the Department for Education and Skills (DfES)
probably promised Conran a halo. Wasn’t this philanthropist bringing
money and opportunity to the poor kids of east London? However, at the
first whiff of opposition, the enthusiasm of this ‘benefactor’ took a
dive.
At first our vigorous local campaign stuck to information-gathering,
letter-writing, petitions and consultation. But we quickly realised that
the councillors were never going to change their minds.
A rumour was gaining credence – if Waltham Forest councillors
rejected an academy, no money would be released for refurbishing all the
other secondary schools. Some even admitted that if this was the only
way to get £24 million, they would vote for it, even though they were
opposed to the principle of academies!
A similar threat emerged during the campaign against the outsourcing
of the education services to a private company a few years ago.
It was then we decided to take the campaign outwards. We challenged
Conran to a debate but got no reply. Then we organised a picket of
Debenham’s in Oxford Street where Conran has an outlet under the ‘J’
label. Plans were also afoot to take the message to other town centres.
This is not necessary now but he may be looking for another school to
descend on. Parents, students and school staff should be vigilant…!
However, as with any victory, there’s another battle on the horizon.
Conran might have dropped out but the United Learning Trust – alias the
Church Schools Company – has stepped in.
Today we’re celebrating. Tomorrow we take stock and draw up new
plans. Our objections to the deregulation of education remain the same.
Our belief, that if you have a go you have a chance of winning, remains
undiminished.
Our victory comes on the heels of another victory against a second
Vardy Academy in Doncaster. There parents, many of whom were involved in
the miners’ strike in the 1980s, gave this warning. They took our mines,
they took our jobs, they are NOT taking our schools!
In this spirit we will continue the fight.
