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Head teachers told to come clean on academies
The GMB Union, which represents
thousands of school support staff across the region, is calling on school head teachers to admit to parents and staff if they
have applied for their schools to become publicly funded independent schools.
Michael Gove, the new Secretary of
State for Schools, has written to every school encouraging them
to register their school to apply for Academy Status. All schools that are currently rated ‘outstanding’ by education watchdog Ofsted
automatically now meet the new criteria to apply for Academy status.
More than 1,000 school heads and governors
have "expressed an interest" in privatising their schools since the new Con Dem coalition government declared last
month that those ranked by Ofsted as "outstanding" could be fast tracked through the process and apply to become
academies as early as September.
Karen Leonard, GMB Birmingham & West Midlands Region Organiser said “The indecent haste with which the
government are attempting to push through these plans is breath taking. School Support Staff across the Birmingham & West
Midlands region are informing us that they have heard nothing from their schools or authorities, and are stunned that no statutory consultation about whether to apply for academy status
is required. Given all that the government has said about giving power to the parents, I consider it hugely ironic that heads
are only being advised to inform parents and staff if they apply, rather than to ask their opinion about whether academy status
is right for their children, for their school, and for their community.”
In the Birmingham and West Midlands region the GMB are writing to all schools with an ‘outstanding’
Ofsted to ask if they intend to apply for academy status, but so far head teachers have been tight lipped.
Karen added “Surely
parents, pupils and school staff should have the right to know whether their school has expressed an interest in applying
for academy status. The GMB trade union would like to know why it is a secret - there is no public record of which schools
have applied. The Tories told us before the election that they wanted to empower parents and give them greater control. I
don’t imagine parents are feeling empowered now.”
GMB, the union for school support staff, says
members could be forced to accept new working conditions. Although the GMB Birmingham & West Midlands have approached
authorities across the region, none had been made aware of whether schools within their authority had applied. Perhaps this
is no surprise, schools are not obliged to consult them, either.
Officers across the Birmingham & West Midlands region are currently organising meetings with School Support Staff to
insure that they are fully aware of the potential changes to their Terms and Conditions (Dates will be available once confirmed
on the GMB regional website www.gmb-westmids.org.uk).
Brian
Strutton, national officer for the GMB declared that "the GMB calls for the names of schools who want to be academies
published, so that parents and staff can start a dialogue with their heads and governors."
"They should come out of the shadows, tell their communities and start answering questions,
because there is too much at stake for schools to stampede over the rights of everyone involved."
- End –
Contact:
Karen Leonard, GMB Officer on 07957 267831 or Samantha Jones, Media/Research Administrator on 0121 550 4888.
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