On Thursday 12 February, Governors of the three schools in the Prendergast/Leathersellers Federation, in Lewisham, voted to press on with plans to turn their schools into academies.
This despite the fact they have carried out no meaningful consultation with the parents, students or the staff at the schools.
Fortunately teachers in the schools did not wait until for this decision to start a fight against the proposals.
On the same day the decision was taken, NUT members at the three schools and at Sedgehill School struck against the threat. Only a few classes ran in each of the schools.
Picket lines were well supported and lively. Teachers in the NASUWT and ATL, as well as support staff in the GMB, are balloting to join strike action in support of action their colleagues in the NUT are taking.
This would give a huge boost to what is already an impressive campaign. The campaign has seen off a threat to academisation at another school in the borough, Bonus Pastor.
It has also dissuaded the council’s preferred academy partner, Bethnal Green Academy, from playing a role in the academisation of Sedgehill.
• Find out more on Facebook: Stop Academies in Lewisham.
