Teachers strike at Birmingham primary school

Released 25/01/2012

Teachers at a school in Birmingham have gone on strike today against plans to force the school to convert to an academy

According to a report by the BBC, Governors are backing the plans for conversion at Montgomery Primary School in Sparkbrook, but teachers and parents are opposing them.

The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection rated the school as “satisfactory” (soon to be “requires improvement”.)

The Department for Education stated that becoming and academy and being sponsored by another outstanding school in the area would be “the right course” for the primary school.

The DfE said: "Sponsored Academy status will give the school the impetus it needs to raise standards and help pupils meet the national standards for literacy and numeracy. Academies have already turned around hundreds of struggling secondary schools across the country and are improving their results at twice the national average rate."

The teachers are to strike today for the second time – they also went on strike on 13^th December and were joined by dozens of parents on the picket line. They recently handed in a petition with 700 signatures demanding a consultation.

Birmingham city council told the BBC they will be supporting the school, and a consultation over the plans will be opened.

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