Union chief and MP's call for Academy action

4:00pm Friday 18th January 2013 in News By Melissa Hills

Union chief and MP's call for Academy action Union chief and MP's call for Academy action

CONCERNS have been raised about the stability of the staff at the Basildon Academies after another top teacher quit the struggling school.

The school’s sixth form director Ginny Parry, who was drafted in by former headteacher Dr Rory Fox, quit last week amid conflicts between the school sponsor Martin Finegold and chairman of governors Les Livermore and the lack of “educational input” by the sponsor since the school went into special measures last March.

The stability of the school environment has been called into question by MPs and union chiefs after headteacher Dr Fox quit in October and was put on gardening leave and interim principal Bev Bell was brought in.

Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon, said: “It is very disappointing to hear that another good teacher at the school has decided to leave. It is clear that the school is not stabilising its situation and it shows why we are so concerned.

“The school cannot keep losing staff because it is very destabalising for the students and they will never get to know any continuity.

“We need to resolve the current challenges which the school is facing and Michael Gove has come out publically and said that he is going to act.

“The children are the most important in this whole situation and they only get one chance at an education. The students need stability to enable them to progress and deliver the results they need to succeed in later life.

“I am following this up with Mr Gove and I hope action to help the school will happen quickly.”

Jerry Glazier, general secretary for Essex NUT, explained he couldn’t refer to individuals leaving the Basildon Academies but said a school under this sort of scrutiny needed stability more than anything.

He added: “Loss of staff for a school in this position is determental. “I welcome the fact that the Secretary of State has demonstrated he is aware of the situation at the Basildon Academies and he is aware of the capacity of the trust.

“I would urge that the school is returned to local authority control as a matter of urgency.

"Clearly the school needs to have quality support which is still lacking and while the trust is in place there is no evidence to show it provides the school with the support it needs.

“It is crucial that the Secretary of State takes action now in the best interests of the children and the students.”

Comments (10)

5:17pm Fri 18 Jan 13

InsertUsername says...

I go to Sixth Form at The Basildon Academies, Mrs Parry was the best thing that has happened to the Sixth Form and it was shocking to hear she was leaving. She was such a great person to have around and provided fantastic guidance and advice. She will be really missed
I go to Sixth Form at The Basildon Academies, Mrs Parry was the best thing that has happened to the Sixth Form and it was shocking to hear she was leaving. She was such a great person to have around and provided fantastic guidance and advice. She will be really missed InsertUsername

5:53pm Fri 18 Jan 13

Eric Whim says...

InsertUsername wrote:
I go to Sixth Form at The Basildon Academies, Mrs Parry was the best thing that has happened to the Sixth Form and it was shocking to hear she was leaving. She was such a great person to have around and provided fantastic guidance and advice. She will be really missed
There seems to be a lot more going on behind the scenes than anyone outside a certain inner circle are allowed to know about.

This can't be good for the students or the school in general and a good, hard, long look at the current set up is needed to stop this turning into an unmitigated disaster.

From what little we are able to glean from reading the reports here it seems the problem lies with the governors rather than the teaching staff.

Time for a radical change I think
[quote][p][bold]InsertUsername[/bold] wrote: I go to Sixth Form at The Basildon Academies, Mrs Parry was the best thing that has happened to the Sixth Form and it was shocking to hear she was leaving. She was such a great person to have around and provided fantastic guidance and advice. She will be really missed[/p][/quote]There seems to be a lot more going on behind the scenes than anyone outside a certain inner circle are allowed to know about. This can't be good for the students or the school in general and a good, hard, long look at the current set up is needed to stop this turning into an unmitigated disaster. From what little we are able to glean from reading the reports here it seems the problem lies with the governors rather than the teaching staff. Time for a radical change I think Eric Whim

9:28am Sat 19 Jan 13

Sensible of Leigh says...

We live in an era where the Secretary of State for Education, Mr Gove, with the blessing and backing of the rest of the Tory party is seeking to privatise the education system of the UK. Academy schools and Free Schools will be sponsored and run by companies and local people and Local Authorities, will have no influence or power. All the power will reside with these companies, who may or may not be based abroad and a remote Secretary of State.

If the current situation is allowed to develop then two things are for certain; one is that companies will be allowed to become 'for profit' and also the situation in Basildon will be tip of an ugly iceberg.

We are in danger of sleep walking into a situation where the entire education system of England is run by people who see an eye for business and wholly unaccountable to local parents.
We live in an era where the Secretary of State for Education, Mr Gove, with the blessing and backing of the rest of the Tory party is seeking to privatise the education system of the UK. Academy schools and Free Schools will be sponsored and run by companies and local people and Local Authorities, will have no influence or power. All the power will reside with these companies, who may or may not be based abroad and a remote Secretary of State. If the current situation is allowed to develop then two things are for certain; one is that companies will be allowed to become 'for profit' and also the situation in Basildon will be tip of an ugly iceberg. We are in danger of sleep walking into a situation where the entire education system of England is run by people who see an eye for business and wholly unaccountable to local parents. Sensible of Leigh

11:56am Sat 19 Jan 13

A.N.Other says...

I would be very scared if this strange man with a mustache was hanging around my sons school. Who is this weirdo?
I would be very scared if this strange man with a mustache was hanging around my sons school. Who is this weirdo? A.N.Other

12:49pm Sat 19 Jan 13

Essex Medja says...

A.N.Other wrote:
I would be very scared if this strange man with a mustache was hanging around my sons school. Who is this weirdo?
You need professional help to get over your inferiority complex.
[quote][p][bold]A.N.Other[/bold] wrote: I would be very scared if this strange man with a mustache was hanging around my sons school. Who is this weirdo?[/p][/quote]You need professional help to get over your inferiority complex. Essex Medja

5:28pm Sat 19 Jan 13

A Dermot says...

Essex Medja wrote:
A.N.Other wrote:
I would be very scared if this strange man with a mustache was hanging around my sons school. Who is this weirdo?
You need professional help to get over your inferiority complex.
I had seen this strange man as well. I was going to phone the Police but I now learn this man who hangs around schools is actually our MP. No doubt he will be found dead dressed in womens clothes with an orange in his mouth.
[quote][p][bold]Essex Medja[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A.N.Other[/bold] wrote: I would be very scared if this strange man with a mustache was hanging around my sons school. Who is this weirdo?[/p][/quote]You need professional help to get over your inferiority complex.[/p][/quote]I had seen this strange man as well. I was going to phone the Police but I now learn this man who hangs around schools is actually our MP. No doubt he will be found dead dressed in womens clothes with an orange in his mouth. A Dermot

5:39pm Sat 19 Jan 13

daninorth says...

Woke up now Mr Gove ? Doesn't this make alarm bells sound about free schools? schools need is to stay under local authority control,stop privatising ,it will be a disaster , our British children need education otherwise we will be having to employ those from other countries due to us being uneducated,this is not a way forward! If u care ,sign & share. http://www.ebaccpeti
tion.org.uk/
Woke up now Mr Gove ? Doesn't this make alarm bells sound about free schools? schools need is to stay under local authority control,stop privatising ,it will be a disaster , our British children need education otherwise we will be having to employ those from other countries due to us being uneducated,this is not a way forward! If u care ,sign & share. http://www.ebaccpeti tion.org.uk/ daninorth

6:18pm Sat 19 Jan 13

Basildonparent says...

Make her stay. She does the best assemblies, really funny. She made us into a real sixth form. My school is going to be rubbish. Everything was working and now going to be breaking. I have told my sister not to come here, my parents have phoned the school. It's all rubbish. It was well funny when she fell off her chair though in assembly and just lay there laughing, then did a little bow. No other teachers would do that. Why do things have to always change for the worst at this school.
Make her stay. She does the best assemblies, really funny. She made us into a real sixth form. My school is going to be rubbish. Everything was working and now going to be breaking. I have told my sister not to come here, my parents have phoned the school. It's all rubbish. It was well funny when she fell off her chair though in assembly and just lay there laughing, then did a little bow. No other teachers would do that. Why do things have to always change for the worst at this school. Basildonparent

8:19pm Sat 19 Jan 13

Altravista says...

Fiasco after fiasco has happened at this school. I am very glad I did not send my child there although it would have been very convenient. There is obviously much more than meets the eye going on and the problem sems to lie with the governors. What is Les Livermore's problem? I didn't think governors got paid so that can't be the issue. And why was Dr Rory Fox gagged? Are the governors' meeting reports confidential or could the Echo ask for a copy under FOI? Pupils, parents, teachers, must want to know.
Fiasco after fiasco has happened at this school. I am very glad I did not send my child there although it would have been very convenient. There is obviously much more than meets the eye going on and the problem sems to lie with the governors. What is Les Livermore's problem? I didn't think governors got paid so that can't be the issue. And why was Dr Rory Fox gagged? Are the governors' meeting reports confidential or could the Echo ask for a copy under FOI? Pupils, parents, teachers, must want to know. Altravista

7:44am Sun 20 Jan 13

daninorth says...

Altravista wrote:
Fiasco after fiasco has happened at this school. I am very glad I did not send my child there although it would have been very convenient. There is obviously much more than meets the eye going on and the problem sems to lie with the governors. What is Les Livermore's problem? I didn't think governors got paid so that can't be the issue. And why was Dr Rory Fox gagged? Are the governors' meeting reports confidential or could the Echo ask for a copy under FOI? Pupils, parents, teachers, must want to know.
Mr Les Livermore is a 'paid' governor, work that one out!
[quote][p][bold]Altravista[/bold] wrote: Fiasco after fiasco has happened at this school. I am very glad I did not send my child there although it would have been very convenient. There is obviously much more than meets the eye going on and the problem sems to lie with the governors. What is Les Livermore's problem? I didn't think governors got paid so that can't be the issue. And why was Dr Rory Fox gagged? Are the governors' meeting reports confidential or could the Echo ask for a copy under FOI? Pupils, parents, teachers, must want to know.[/p][/quote]Mr Les Livermore is a 'paid' governor, work that one out! daninorth

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