Fighting Academies in Midhurst and Easebourne

Following West Sussex County Council’s disclosure of its plan to close three schools and open an Academy in Midhurst or Easebourne, some concerned members of the community – teachers and parents who recognize that an Academy is not the best solution for the Rother Valley – have formed a campaign group. NAME (No Academy in Midhurst or Easebourne) is gaining momentum daily and welcomes new members. It will engage in public meetings and produce literature, and it has established a website where the public can contribute their thoughts in a way that doesn’t have to fit into the standard ‘consultation’ boxes: http://namecampaign.blogspot.com/ .

NAME Spokesperson, Chris Boxley commented this week:

“In their briefing to the Press, West Sussex County Council claim that the idea of an Academy for Midhust ‘emerged’ during December. Strange, then that the minutes of the council’s cabinet show that they discussed the matter in May!

WSCC Cabinet member Councillor Dunn also claimed that an Academy is ‘the only show in town’. It’s true! An Academy is the only option to replace Midhurst Grammar, Herbert Shiner and the Intermediate if we demand closure of these schools now and their replacement in the next three years. This is not what the community wants. Before December, nobody was clamouring to shut these three schools immediately, despite some increasingly outdated accommodation.

If, on the other hand, we hold out for public funding to be made available (either through Building Schools for the Future, or other targeted capital funding as it comes on stream), or for County to raise the revenue, we can get the school we want, where we want it, using the detailed plans seen by governors at MGS, creating a better school around Whip Hill, Lambert’s Lane and including the existing brand new sports centre. We say, why throw away a 336 year historical legacy for a slightly longer wait?”

Academies are bad for communities, bad for school staff and bad for parents and children. Why?

1) Bad for communities because, despite what County say about representation, the rules for Academy governance are clear – even when the local authority is a co-sponsor, the private sponsor must have an absolute majority of governors to maintain control of the school: this is undemocratic and unrepresentative;
2) Bad for school staff because only existing staff will be protected by TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment)) – new staff may be employed at a lower rate, eventually forcing downward pressure on wages and conditions for all workers in the Academy;
3) Bad for parents and children because there is growing evidence that established Academies carry out methods of ‘back-door selection’ – in the end, the school chooses its parents and children, not the other way around.

The real choice is not the one offered in the consultation – Academy or nothing! It is
either buy into a privatized Academy now; or
buy time for the community to debate its priorities and get the publicly funded, publicly run, publicly accountable school it deserves.

You can visit their blog:
click here