Protests are being aired tonight (Weds) at a public meeting called over plans by the first primary school in London’s East End’s wanting to opt-out of local authority control.
The governors of Sir William Burrough Primary in Limehouse are proposing to apply for ‘academy’ status to take the school away from Tower Hamlets Local Education Authority.
Teachers’ campaigners led by the NUT union who are against opting-out hold a public meeting at 6pm at Dora community hall nearby.
They want to stop Sir William Burrough Primary following governors at Bethnal Green Technology secondary who voted two weeks ago to become an academy.
The campaign is being run by three teacher unions and three other public sector unions, spearheaded by the NUT’s Tower Hamlets general secretary Alex Kenny, the main speaker tonight.
A joint union statement said: “The public consultation is too fast without a chance for all parents, staff and the community to consider the issues.”
“Parents and staff should be able to hear both sides of the argument and vote in a secret ballot.”
But many parents at the school have already opted for ‘academy’ status in a survey where 77 said ‘yes’ and 40 said ‘no’, following two consultation meetings. The consultation period due to end earlier this month has now been extended.
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