Academies victory: one down, four to go!


Martin Powell-Davies, Lewisham NUT

The Tories’ latest announcements show they are determined to take the whole of education out of democratic local control. They want even more schools made into privatised ‘academies’. In Lewisham, teachers, parents and students are determined to stop these attacks.

Lewisham branch of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) has balloted members in five schools for strike action against privatisation. A first walkout is planned for 12 February. News has just come in that one of the schools, Bonus Pastor, has announced it isn’t going ahead with academy plans.

No solution

Campaign meetings have heard from students, parents and staff who know from their own experiences that academies are no solution to educational issues. In fact, they make things worse. Staff pay and conditions are threatened. Parents complain about how their children have been treated in schools that are like ‘exam factories’.

Unlike some neighbouring boroughs, Lewisham has largely resisted the spread of academies. Then news emerged that five schools might be starting on the road to academisation.

The Stop Academies in Lewisham campaign was set up to oppose these threats. Hundreds of students rallied outside Lewisham town hall to protest at the threat to Sedgehill School in particular (see issue 839).

The good news from Bonus Pastor makes it one down, four to go!