Staff protest over forced academies

THE NUT picket line outside Oldham Civic Centre

SCHOOL staff held a rally at Oldham Civic Centre to protest against Government plans unveiled in the Budget to force every school to become an academy.

Around 60 members of several unions which represent teachers and support staff took part in the demonstration — one of many held across England.

Nigel Yeo, joint secretary of Oldham National Union of Teachers, said: “Converting all schools to academies will be a disaster for education and local democracy.

“Despite there being no evidence that academy status improves education, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan is recklessly ploughing ahead with this policy.

“Schools are facing enough problems of the Government’s making. Teacher shortages have reached serious levels, there is a school places crisis, funding is totally inadequate and there is chaos over the curriculum and assessment. It is in these areas that Government should be focusing.”