Pickets at Avenue School, 14.12.17, photo James Ivens

Pickets at Avenue School, 14.12.17, photo James Ivens   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

“We want a ballot and we want it now” was one of the demands chanted on the Avenue School picket line in Newham, east London, on 17 April.

Striking staff and the parents that support them are demanding a ballot, which the governing board seems to be scared of granting – as its clear the majority of parents oppose academisation.

The picket line was buoyed up by the news that the judicial review parents have been fighting for was granted last week.

There were many messages of solidarity including from Hannah Sell, Socialist Party deputy general secretary, who told the crowd how inspiring the strike was and that the Socialist Party was fully behind it and will be standing against pro-academy councillors in the local May elections in Newham.

Cumberland School, also in Newham, is also on strike against academisation.

Juliette Fogelman, East London Socialist Party