Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/19717

Posted on 19 November 2014 at 21:02 GMT

Lewisham TUSC supports anti-academies campaign

A statement from Lewisham TUSC

Lewisham Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) fully supports the newly established Stop Academies in Lewisham campaign (SAiL). At least five secondaries in the borough are considering academy status: Bonus Pastor, Hilly Fields, Ladywell Fields, Prendergast Vale and Sedgehill.

TUSC stands for fully funded comprehensive education under local authority control and opposes all forms of privatisation.

"The latest proposals see further attacks on comprehensive education. It is vital that staff, parents, governors and the local community organise to keep schools under local authority control in order to protect staff pay and conditions and ensure the needs of all children in the borough are met, without the increased competition and division created by privatisation".

"TUSC has a proud record of standing with the NUT and other unions in defending education in the borough against cuts and privatisation. We saw with the Lewisham Hospital campaign that when we organise and campaign we can win. TUSC will be lending our full support to SAiL and to NUT members taking action against the proposals".

Martin Powell-Davies, SAiL convenor and Lewisham NUT secretary, is a member of the TUSC national steering committee.

The TUSC national steering committee has recently endorsed the NUT's 'Stand up for education' manifesto.