We must now have an open debate about privatisation3 important articles in the press this week kept up the pressure about the government’s education policy and the impact it is having on our schools.
A close look at the latest league tables shows academies are no better, and often worse, than maintained schools, says Fiona Millar We must now have an open debate about privatisation
Michael Gove’s drive to turn schools into academies opens the way for a privatised model that doesn’t deliver results says Seamus Milne Crony capitalism feeds the corporate plan for schools
The Education Secretary’s free-market reforms to our school system are a political time bomb waiting to explode writes Mehdi Hasan Gove’s stealthy school reforms could become as toxic as the NHS bill
Forced Academies Ofsted puts Downhills school in special measures
On Friday Ofsted announced that they had placed Downhill School in special measures. Michael Gove has identified 200 schools, of which he says Downhills is one, that he says are ‘underperforming’ and should be turned into academies.
The Save Downhills School group have run a determined campaign to save their school and prevent it becoming an academy.
They have released the following statement:
“We are shocked to find that our school has been judged so harshly by Ofsted. It is clear from the parents’ responses to the Ofsted questionnaire that those who know the school have a very different and more positive view of Downhills School.
“We care about our school and want the very best education for our children. There is no evidence that forcing schools to become academies improves standards. The government wants to take schools away from elected local authorities and hand them over to academy chains – including for profit companies – who have no experience of running primary schools. This is not about school improvement; this is a politically driven attack on our school.”
On a positive note, our year 3 children have won a national photo competition and their work will be displayed in the National Gallery from 9 May to 15 September ’12.
Also, our campaign very much continues – we do not believe that forced academy status is a solution to our current situation. We wish to continue our school improvement within the local family of schools. So we very much still say – NO to forced academies.” Rush messages of support to savedownhills@hotmail.co.uk
