NASUWT: Strike action over forced academy conversion

Tuesday, 24 January 2012 3:41 PM

Members of the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union, are taking strike action at Montgomery Primary School in Birmingham over controversial plans to force the school into becoming an academy.

The strike on Wednesday January 25 follows a day of action last December.

A public meeting on Thursday 26 January will be attended by local MP, Roger Godsiff and representatives from the NASUWT and the local community.

Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:

“Parents, teachers and the local community are united in their opposition to the imposition of academy status on the school.

“Any change to the status of a school should be about raising standards.

“Results at the school are already improving and there is no evidence that academies raise standards.

“This deeply unpopular plan is completely unjustified.

“There is no doubt that Montgomery is a victim of the fact that the majority of schools do not see any benefit in academy status and, therefore, the Secretary of State has resorted to a policy of bullying and coercion.”


ENDS

Notes to Editors

NASUWT members, who are teachers at the school, will be on the picket line from 8am to approximately 9.15 am. Paula Roe, NASUWT Senior Vice-President and Anne Brimacombe, Birmingham teacher and National Executive member, will be available for media interviews.

The public meeting will be held at 7.30 pm at the Community Hall, Sparkbrook Islamic Centre, Sydenham Road, B11 1ND on Thursday 26 January.






Stuart Gannon
NASUWT Press Office

Tel: 020 7420 9681
Mobile (and out of hours contact): 07966 198894
Address: 5 King Street , Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8SD 

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• academies
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• roger godsiff