Parents, workers and pupils at Downhills Primary School have recorded a song by the pupils and supporters in opposition to attempts to force them to become an academy.
Still in struggle, and considered to be a 'key battle' in the academies programme, the opposition by parents, staff and students to the plans to force change to academy status continues. They are currently going down a legal route, seeking a judicial review. As I've said before, successful campaigns require organised direct action or the threat of such. Cross-union strike threats with support of parents and pupils were enough for governors to halt plans to convert for Bournville School, hopefully others like Downhills will follow this lead.
This is cheesy but kinda sweet, and the issue at hand is incredibly serious. Academies are the thin end of privatisation's wedge and will be the death knell for organised trade unions in schools. Downhills, and every other school in struggle against the academies programme deserve support and solidarity.
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Solidarity Downhills!
Comments
Just saw this blog entry for
Just saw this blog entry for the first time. Vid's coming up private Choccy.
They musta locked it then,
They musta locked it then, maybe cos it's filmed in school? Was defo openly available when they first released it.
So the school has just been
So the school has just been put in 'special measures' despite improved performance since 2009. Gove said they'd 're-inspect' the school when parents and teachers resisted forced academy conversion.
The duly 'reinspected' and have now labelled it 'inadequate' and stuck it in special measures, so they can force through academy status.
The head has now quit.
Fucking depressing strategic bullying of an entire community in what's considered a key battle in the whole academy programme.
Downhills featured in BBC
Downhills featured in BBC Radio 4 'The Report' about forced academy coversions in primary sector.