Support our Schools: Say NO to Leicester Academies

The latest meeting of the Support our Schools Campaign brought together representatives from schools, teaching unions, Higher Education and the Leicester Trades Council.

There was agreement that the campaign’s consistent pushing of a collaborative model for educational change was having an effect. At Fullhurst Community College many of the new initiatives were based on that model, especially the supportive work being done there by Rushey Mead Secondary School.

The teaching unions submitted a detailed paper in May, arguing that the case for Academies, published by the Local Authority in December, no longer applied due to a series of major changes in the schools.

At Babington, support for students had been enhanced; new management arrangements made for sustainable progress and the governing body had been re-invigorated.

At Fullhurst, support has been brought in via the Education Improvement Partnership and from Rushey Mead. In addition, an innovative new CPD programme has also been introduced, based on partnering teachers from the two schools to work together to maximise expertise and share planning.

This positive approach to raising standards is in sharp contrast to the negative, divisive solution of imposing Academies in an attempt to raise performance, as favoured by The Government. We can, however, feel encouraged by the major demonstrations by students and parents opposing unwanted Academies in Barrow last week.

It is to be hoped that Leicester City Council will recognise that working in harmony and co-operation with the wider education community, is the best way to support students. In that case, the Support our Schools Campaign would be happy to work in partnership with officers and elected members to make Leicester into a genuine ‘Learning City’ where children get the best educational deal possible.