Stop the academisation of St Matthew's CE Primary School and support the staff, parents and the local community!
The governing body of St Matthew's CE Primary School, Preston, Cidari Multi Academy Trust and the Bishop of Blackburn
The governing body of St Matthew's CE Primary School in Preston has rushed through a decision to turn the school into an academy, despite widespread opposition from staff, parents, local councillors and the wider community.
Staff on strike
The governing body has repeatedly failed to meaningfully engage with staff concerns. Staff at St Matthew's are currently taking strike action to oppose this rushed and unpopular process.
News coverage of the strike can be found here and here
Why oppose academisation?
• Academies remove local control and accountability. There is no requirement for academies to include parent representatives on their ‘local’ governing bodies.
• Staff working conditions can be eroded as academies do not have to follow national standards. This can negatively affect education provision as the working conditions of teachers are the learning conditions of students.
• Pupils in academies are more likely to be taught by an unqualified teacher.
• There is no proof that educational attainment improves by becoming an academy.
• Schools have better financial protection within their Local Authority.
• Academies spend more money on senior leadership and less money on teachers.
• This process is irreversible—there is no going back!
More information on academies can be found here
Petition by
To:
The governing body of St Matthew's CE Primary School, Preston, Cidari Multi Academy Trust and the Bishop of Blackburn
From:
[Your Name]
We the undersigned strongly oppose the academisation of St. Matthew’s CE Primary School and fully support the strike action taken by staff to keep the school in the local community.
We believe that staff want to return to work and end the disruption to pupils’ education. This disruption has been caused solely by the actions of the governing body, who have created this crisis by ignoring the responses to their own consultation. They have ploughed ahead with academisation in the face of widespread opposition from staff, parents, local councillors and the wider community.
We demand that the governing body immediately speak to staff unions to try and end the dispute.