Queen Elizabeth Girls’ School needs you!!

We are entering a crucial stage in our campaign to prevent Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School becoming an academy. The proposed conversion date is 1 August and the governors are meeting next on 9 May.

We need your help!!

1. Are you available for petitioning at The Spires, Barnet 11am-1pm on Saturday 30 April and/or Saturday 7 May?

2. Are you available to hand out leaflets outside the school gates 3.15pm to 4pm on any school days between now and 5 May?

3. Can you come to our public meeting (Speaker=Alasdair Smith of the Anti Academies Alliance) at the Bull Theatre, High Street, Barnet on Thursday 5 May at 6pm?

If the answer is YES to any of the above can you drop us an e-mail and indicate availability?

Thank you!

barnet@antiacademies.org.uk

Sue denies the charges; her union, the National Union of Teachers, is collecting signatures on a petition calling for Sue’s reinstatment. Download the petition here. Send completed copies and messages of support to: secretary@barnet.nut.org.uk.

A group of Sue’s students have started a Facebook page to support her, the name of the page is ‘Reinstate Sue Caldwell’.

The text is:

Local NUT branch President, school rep and Head of Maths Sue Caldwell was suspended from Friern Barnet secondary school in the north London borough of Barnet on Monday 17 January.

She had been under investigation by the head teacher since 24 November following a single parental allegation that she had encouraged students to walk out to join EMA and tuition fees protests. Sue denies this. NUT and UNISON groups have now signed a letter to the head calling for Sue’s reinstatement, with the broad support of colleagues in other unions.

He had claimed that Sue’s suspension, despite its negative impact on her department and students’ learning, is necessary to complete his investigations! Yet he has had Sue’s work laptop since December. An NUT Regional Officer has supported Sue at two informal investigatory interviews so far.

This is the only school in the country that we know to be taking this attitude in the aftermath of student protests. We regard this suspension as an act of victimisation – not due process. Sue is well-known locally as an Anti-Academies and LGBT Rights activist, and a frequent speaker at NUT Annual Conference.

We call on Sue’s supporters everywhere to act now. Please use this petition in your workplace, union or organisational network. Also e-mail your messages of support. Spread the word!

The threat was made in a letter from Lord Hill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools in the Department for Education.

The union Lord Hill names, one of the big school teachers’ unions, the NASUWT, has written to Lord Hill pointing out the inaccuracies in his letter and criticising the underlying political message.

Barnet Anti Academies Alliance

This is the letter that I, along with other students, wrote to the governors of Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School before the first vote to take the first step towards Academy Status.

Every year group has had an assembly given by the Head Teacher about Academy Status and how it will affect our school. We feel that only a short amount of warning had been given to parents, students and staff before the governors’ vote. We have created a petition which allows parents, students and staff to show their opposition to the change to Academy status. When presenting the petition we informed them of the pros and cons and discussed how they felt and what their worries were.

One of our biggest worries is that Academy status is irreversible. Putting 125 years lease on the academy is un-democratic and prevents many future generations from change. What happens if future generations are not satisfied with the academy’s progress, why is it that a decision that they did not make has to affect them so direly?

Another concern is that the Head Teacher will have the ability to make changes to the staff without having to consult stakeholders. This may lead to concern amongst staff and reluctance to question the Head Teacher’s judgement. This could potentially be bad for the students due to the teachers putting the Head’s needs and concerns before that of the students. We understand the position that the school is in. We have listened and done our own research on the matter. Barnet Council wants every school to become an Academy and if we don’t, we could be left out. But we’re not sheep, why should we do something just because everybody else is? We have an amazing school and we are so proud to be part of it. We are concerned that the ethos of the school may be affected if we become an Academy. We have an outstanding Head Teacher, governing body and inspiring staff who contribute towards the attitudes and achievements of the girls who attend the school – but a lot can change in 125 years.

All stakeholders will change at some point over 125 years and we would potentially be leaving them with a bad system of schooling that cannot be reversed.We understand that it costs over £6 million to run QE per year and that cuts have to be made. But this supposed extra money isn’t guaranteed. We are expected to receive a grant for the transfer in the first year, but after that, nothing is certain. The coalition could break any day and we could have a new government – but if we go ahead with becoming an Academy, we may find ourselves in an unfortunate position.

We believe that there is an alternative to becoming an Academy. Granted, it won’t be easy, but we have no guarantee that it will be any better if we left Local Authority. A lot of questions have been asked, with the most common answer being “We’re not sure” or “We haven’t yet had that information.” – Why would anybody do something that they’re not sure of?

There are many worries and concerns about staying under Local Authority control or becoming an Academy and we realise it is a tough decision. But is 125 years worth a situation that may only be around for 4 years? There is an alternative. We need to ride out the storm.

“The future is an infinite succession of presents and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvellous victory.”

Saturday 15th January, 1pm – 4pm
Canterbury Hall, 19-26 Cartwright Gardens, London WC1H 9EF (Euston and Kings Cross stations)

Since the General Election the Tory / Lib Dem government have gone all out to try to drive through their Academies and ‘Free’ schools.

They are making slow progress. The overwhelming majority of schools are not rushing to become Academies. The proposal to make all schools directly funded had to be dropped from the Education White Paper.

Parents, teachers, governors and councillors around the country are opposing the conversion of their schools into Academies.

The Anti Academies Alliance has been active across the country organising meetings, producing Briefings, 2 newspapers, stickers and balloons.

The coming year will be crucial in the fight to defend our education system.

We encourage all campaigns and affiliates to send delegates. We will have speakers, discussion, motions and elect the National Steering Committee.

To register for the conference please email your details to office@antiacademies.org.uk
–
Anti Academies Alliance office
07528 201 697
www.antiacademies.org.uk

The council and head do not want the school to become an academy, believing this will not be benefiicial for the school or for education in the borough; Mr Gove just wants another bright, shiny new academy to add to his rather short list. The parents are in the middle wondering what is best.

This shows the importance of a full and informed debate being held throughout all our communities. We believe that will show that academies are the wrong road to go down, both for individual schools and for education as a whole. But we do at least need the debate!

If you want to help, meet us at 5pm outside Summerside Primary on Thursday 4 November and/or Monday 8 November.

For more details, email: barnet@antiacademies.org.uk.