Barnet teachers unite to fight planned changes to Academy schools (From Times Series)

Barnet teachers unite to fight planned changes to Academy schools

2:10pm Wednesday 28th July 2010

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A GROUP of teachers have banded together to form an anti-Academies Alliance in Barnet to lobby against proposed educational changes in the borough.

The coalition government has invited every outstanding school in the country to apply for Academy status, which would give them more control over budgets and curriculum.

However, many teachers and unions are unhappy and say the plans are “undemocratic” as there is no obligation for governors to consult with parents or staff before applying for the status.

So far two schools, Queen Elizabeth Boys School and Ravenscroft Technology College have applied for the status by September 1.

Sue Caldwell, a spokesman for the alliance, said: “We think this will create a two-tier system, with better schools getting Academy status and having the power to change entry criteria to attract a certain type of student.

“Staff and parents should be balloted on these plans and at the very least we want that to be compulsory, so governors do take note of what they think.”

Barnet Council has already given backing to schools which want to change to Academy status, saying they want to be at the forefront of the change.

Ms Caldwell added: “The council's support for this is typical, it fits in with the easyCouncil concept of privatising all their services.

“There's no guarantees for the staff their terms of employment will stay the same and it puts a lot of power into the hands of very few unelected officials.

“We're starting a campaign to get this off the ground which we hope to have fully up and running by September. We already have the backing of the major trade unions in the borough.”

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