the way back - nervous breakdown and all that

A close friend brought my attention to an article ( link ) that was published on 15.06.23 in the online publication Schools Week . While the article itself is rather lacking in substance and insight, the comments it precipitated were quite interesting – see below:   1.     Robert James (16.06.23) This barely scratches the surface of this story that has affected 1,000s. Morale of staff at these schools is very low at the moment and trust in the governing body at an all-time low. The only reason the strikes were called off is down to ministerial intervention and the unions having no choice. I’m sure the impact of these strikes on the children of these schools has been negative. However, things need to be put into perspective here: the strikes did not come out of nowhere – they were the direct consequence of the governing body failure to consider its stakeholders wishes and concerns. I would invite you to look at the Prendergast Academisation Discussion Group ...

A lot of friends and allies were made during this campaign: a real community was formed bringing staff, parents and many other activists together.  Along the way, we were supported and by a number of local journalists and media activists. Here is a list of articles and videos that were written/made during this period.  Thank you to all, with a particular shout out to the amazing Charles Thompson who has thus far written a grand total of 7 articles about the campaign! James Twomey – South London Press Twitter: @jamesatwomey 16 th March: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/well-fight-this-to-the-end-parents-and-teachers-fears-over-plans-to-turn-group-of-schools-into-multi-academy-trust/ 26 th April: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/this-is-about-the-children-teachers-on-strike-and-parents-furious-over-academy-plans/ 27 th April video: https://twitter.com/jamesatwomey/status/1651515614953971713?s=20   7 Shelf Films 3 rd May video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7...

We have lost out battle to stop our Federation converting into an academy. We fought hard. We were on strike for the best part of half a term as our genuine concerns -as well as the vast majority of those stakeholders who shared theirs- were completely ignored. A parent recently asked me online about whether the NEU would release a statement after the failure of the strikes to gain leverage and, in fact, imperil the education of a generation of children who had already suffered enough missed schooling under Covid. This was my answer: As far as Covid goes, we teachers were on the front line, working at school most days for key workers, and working at home (every day and evening) to do as much as we could for our pupils (prepping and marking work, calling children and parents to make sure they were ok in the most surreal of atmospheres in school), and home-schooling our own children. I am proud to have been an educator during those dark days. It seems as if the government and the GB have...

Some of you who have been reading my blog from its inception will know that the one virtue I hold dearest is that of integrity. The following resignation letter is a shining example of integrity.  To say that it made me feel proud to have fought the good fight with this passionate person would be a huge understatement. She is a Prendergast parent, who also happens to be a teacher, and I am lucky to now count her as an extremely supportive friend. It puts across the emotions we have been through so eloquently. Thank you Emma xxx  __________ __________ Dear Mr Coogan and Mr Hussain, I’m writing to you to explain my decision to step down from my involvement with Friends of Prendergast Vale, including my position as Chair. This has been an incredibly emotional decision for me to take and I thought I should let you know the reasoning behind my thinking. My involvement with the PTA at this school started in 2009 when my daughter Molly started at Lewisham Bridge Primary. I joined...

In response to the Chat and Q&A Transcript Webinar 18/05/2023 (full transcript  here ). In italics, the transcript.   We continue to seek a negotiated settlement that will enable all our staff to return to our schools as   soon as possible. We are also pursuing all other avenues to bring the industrial action to an end.  FALSE:  In a communication dated 23.05.23, the Governing Body (GB) stated it would not reopen discussions with the NEU unless industrial action were immediately suspended. One party insisting that specific conditions must be met before any other action can take place is not a constructive way of approaching talks and finding a way to resolve the local dispute sooner. The GB finally agreed to talks on 08/06 (and potentially 09/06) once we (NEU) agreed on a week's strike pause. We had been clear with them from 23/05 that we were ready and willing to go to ACAS at any time, but the GB could not commit to any dates before the second week i...