TAKING ACTION AGAINST ACADEMY

School staff take action against Academy proposals School staff in a number of areas are taking action against Academy proposals. Hackney NUT has held indicative ballots in Clapton, Haggerston and Stoke Newington Schools, over opposing Academy status. In each staff voted overwhelmingly for action. More here In Lancashire NASUWT members have declared an industrial dispute against an Academy proposal and expect other school unions will do the same. More here   Wakefield Council votes to oppose Academies On Wednesday 10th November Wakefield Council passed a motion which opposing Academies. This is a part of the motion “That the Academies Bill will transfer extra funding not to the weakest schools but to the strongest, creating a two tier system of education, with the strongest thriving and the weakest left to drift.” Full text here     New Statesman Several excellent articles in the New Statesman this week http://www.newstatesman.com/topics/education   Anti Academies Alliance Financial Appeal The Anti Academies Alliance has launched a Financial Appeal to help build the opposition to Academies and ‘Free’ Schools. Read our Appeal, and download the leaflet, here http://www.antiacademies.org.uk/Home/financial-appeal   How can the Anti Academies Alliance help your school? We continue to be approached by schools asking us to help them campaign against Academy proposals that are being pushed on them. The Anti Academies Alliance is happy to work with head teachers, governors, parents and staff to develop a campaign to prevent your school becoming an Academy. Please contact the office if you need help.   CASE conference Campaign for State Education conference Saturday 20th November.           http://www.campaignforstateeducation.org.uk/Conference%202010%20booking%20form.pdf   TUC conference: The future for our schools The TUC have organised a major conference on education on Saturday 27th November. More details and registration here http://www.tuc.org.uk/industrial/tuc-18598-f0.cfm   Anti Academies Alliance AGM The Anti Academies Alliance AGM will be held on Saturday 15th January in Central London. More information to follow.   News Andy Burnham, “there would be no more free schools.” Michael Gove is bullying us into becoming an academy, says head Private firms could take share of underperforming schools fund Gems chief executive Zenna Atkins quits after just seven weeks Academy schools, who benefits? Council promises public will have a say over bid by Birstall, Birkenshaw and Gomersal Parents’ Alliance for a Free School   More news stories here http://www.delicious.com/antiacademies   Anti Academies Newspaper Over 60,000 newspapers have now been despatched around the country and are being distributed to parents, teachers, governors. Please download the order form and post in your order here http://www.antiacademies.org.uk/Home/news/septemberantiacademiesnewspaper Or email in your order and we will send you an invoice.   Anti Academies DVD We have an excellent new 13 minute DVD outlining the case against Academies and ‘Free’ Schools. It is perfect for union meetings / parent meetings / campaign meetings. If you would like a copy they are £10 to union groups / £2 to parent and campaign groups. Send orders to the office and we will despatch them with an invoice.   Campaign materials Make your campaign stall / meeting complete with Stickers / Balloons / Mugs / T Shirts http://www.antiacademies.org.uk/Home/merchandise   Having trouble keeping up with the news on Academies and Free Schools? You can follow the Anti Academies Alliance on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Anti-Academies-Alliance/178831804728?ref=ts Twitter – http://twitter.com/antiacademies Summary of Twitter news – http://feedity.com/rss.aspx/antiacademies-org-uk/UVFTW1JS Delicious – http://www.delicious.com/antiacademies