It appears The Village School governing body decided by a majority to support academisation to form a Multi Academy Trust at last night's meeting which which was marked by the extraordinary decision to deploy dogs to keep staff and members of the public out of the meeting.
This is the statement from the NEU released late yesterday:
Today, 28thFebruary NEU members of staff and supporters gathered in Arctic conditions outside The Village school in Brent to express their opposition to the proposed academy. Despite the weather the Governors meeting to decide on whether to convert or not went ahead. Staff were prevented from going inside as the premises were in ‘lockdown’. This was the description given by one of the security guards, with dogs at the ready, who had been brought in by the headteacher, Kay Charles.
Staff governors and Reps struggled to get past the dog handlers into the governors' meeting.
Staff governors and Reps struggled to get past the dog handlers into the governors' meeting.
The NEU strikers’ response was to sing even louder and a new song was quickly added to their imaginative repertoire, “Who brought the dogs in? Kay, Kay, Kay, Kay, Kay, Who paid the bill? We, we, we, we did”. Brent Councillor Jumbo Chan addressed the protestors praising their stand and bringing the support of the Brent Council leader Muhmmed Butt, Barry Gardiner and Dawn Butler, both Brent Labour MPs and the local Labour Party.
The previous day, NEU staff, both teachers and support staff were on strike yet again to prevent their school becoming an academy. Joining them on the picket and supporting demonstration was Kevin Courtney, Joint NEU General Secretary. He brought solidary from the 450,000 members of NEU.
We heard yesterday that secondary academy Heads in Brent have sent a letter supporting the Executive Headteacher Kay Charles in her move to privatise this outstanding special school. Perhaps they are lining up to join the Multi Academy Trust and thereby possibly get a position in it where they earn more money?
A letter before action has been sent to Sandra Kabir, Chair of Governors, disgracefully defying the Labour line although still the Brent Labour Group Whip. Governors have voted by a majority for the Multi Academy Trust. Legal action will likely soon follow.
When the management of a school calls in dog vans because staff are peacefully protesting against academisation, you know they have lost the argument. Democracy and consultation academy style.