East Midlands Primary Conference – Saturday 22 March, 11am – 4pm.
At Friends Meeting House, Clarendon Street, Nottingham NG1 5JD.
Speakers include Alan Gibbons, author; Dr Terry Wrigley, Leeds Met Uni.;
Prof Howard Stevenson, Nottingham Uni.; Mark Jennett, trainer & writer;
Jess Edwards and Sheena Wheatley, NUT.
To reserve a place email louise.regan@ntlworld.com or phone 07739489609
Register online at http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/east-midlands-primary-charter-conference-tickets-10658250113
Read a post by a parent from Gladstone Park — a primary school facing enforced academisation — followed by an interesting discussion, on the Local Schools Network website here :
After a ‘winter lull’ things are beginning to happen locally. There has been some good news with Bispham Drive and Bramcote Hills Primary schools. Both sets of governors have decided to delay a decision on ‘academy conversion’ for a while. In the case of Bispham it is not clear whether this is due to the pressure brought to bear by members of staff who oppose academisation. The delay is only until the end of the academic year so there is no room for complacency. At Bramcote Hills Primary, a good process of calm consideration of the pros and cons has led to a decision to ‘wait and see’ and look again in a year’s time. This is how all schools should have been approaching this momentous decision, but, sadly, few have.
The consultation period for Fairfield Primary ends shortly — 22nd February — and it is important that everyone who has a view lets the governors know before that date*. This group is currently drafting a letter that will be sent in the next few days. We do not know what will happen after 22nd: will the governors publish the results of their consultation?
A meeting of primary school teachers who might possibly be affected by academisation was held recently.
Wherever we hear of potential conversions, we almost always hear of subterfuge, small groups of governors acting without the knowledge of the whole body, letters being sent without the prior knowledge of the full governing body, teaching staff kept in the dark until the last minute, governors, parents and teachers only being given arguments FOR the conversion. It makes you wonder: what are the proponents of academies afraid of!
There are also a lot of developments nationally regarding academies, with revelations that Michael Gove is considering privatisation of academies (and free schools) and also that his officials have been offering ‘bribes’ to schools who are reluctant to convert.
It is also becoming clear that the act of converting is not the end of the matter. We know of two schools (academies) in our area who are undergoing some kind of ‘merger’.
Now is absolutely the WRONG time to be deciding to take what is, of course, a once-and-for-all-time decision.
*Go to the Fairfield school website at http://www.fairfield.notts.sch.uk click on the ‘Contact us’ button, scroll down and complete the contact form (remembering to press ‘Send’ when you have done!)
Please note that the venue for Tuesday’s meeting of the group (15th January – 7.30 pm) has been changed to
Oban House (Broxtowe Volunteer Bureau), just up from the Post Office and opposite the church.
AGENDA:
Our next meeting is on Tuesday 30 October at 7.30pm in the small meeting room at Beeston Library, Foster Avenue Beeston. All welcome – there is disabled access via the lift to the first floor.
We will be discussing the next steps in the campaign, with primary schools and free schools on the agenda.
Hands Off Our Schools 