Barking and Dagenham NUT welcome government’s academy U-turn
Dominic Byrne, NUT secretary for Barking and Dagenham - Credit: Archant
One of the country’s biggest teaching unions has welcomed the government’s U-turn over turning all Barking and Dagenham schools into academies.
Education secretary Nicky Morgan conceded defeat over current proposals to convert all schools, although she stressed that the government was still in favour of academies.
Dominic Byrne, Barking and Dagenham branch secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) welcomed the news and believes the decision is a victory for political action.
“It shows the power of campaigning and standing up to the government,” he said
“In the future the government should speak to teachers and listen to teachers before coming up with future policies.
“It’s the best thing for pupils and parents.”
Chancellor George Osborne announced the proposals to take all English school outside of local authority control in his Budget two months ago, but the government has come under increased pressure over the issue.
Most Read
- 1 70 firefighters tackle Dagenham house fire
- 2 Council leader on the borough's future, CPZs and receiving death threats
- 3 Dagenham cat with misshapen eye struggles to find home
- 4 Baby boy died from 'whiplash' injuries caused by shaking, trial hears
- 5 Boy, 5, dies after 'unexplained' incident off Heathway
- 6 Dagenham woman to face trial on numerous robbery charges
- 7 Travel Bulletin: Havering, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham
- 8 Man pleads not guilty to unlicensed street trading in Dagenham
- 9 Teenager charged with GBH after stabbing in Dagenham
- 10 Two arrested after shooting and stabbing in Barking
Education experts and MPs across all parties have spoken out against the measures with the National Association of Head Teachers threatening to take strike action earlier this week.
Mrs Morgan said: “Making every school an academy is the best way to ensure every child, regardless of birth or background, has access to a world-class education.
“I am today reaffirming our determination to see all schools to become academies. “However, having listened to the feedback from parliamentary colleagues and the education sector we will now change the path to reaching that goal.”