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Islington Tribune - by TOM FOOT
Published: 29 August 2008

‘We can’t go on’: Teachers walk out in academy protest

THE opening of a flagship city academy in Islington has been marred by a teacher exodus.
Experienced teachers have told the Tribune they “cannot go on” working at Islington Green community school when it opens as the City of London Academy this week.
At least a dozen teachers have already filed for resignation in a clear protest signal to new sponsors City University and the Corporation of London.
It follows a three-year battle to save the community school from closure that ended after a failed legal action in the High Court last year.
Tim Harrison, London’s regional secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: “Islington Green is a school that has succeeded in meeting targets, but for political reasons has been transformed into an academy. A number of members have contacted us informing us about their reasons for leaving the school. They say they can no longer work for the academy because it is not part of the local comprehensive system.”
One teacher, said: “I was cycling past it and I just decided, I just can’t work there anymore. There are a lot of teachers who have left for the same reason.”
The academy programme is part of major education reforms imposed by central Government.
The schools are taken out of the control of the local authority and run by private sponsors who control the curriculum, staffing and admissions.
The £1million sponsorship costs are being met by the education charity, Medicor, based in the tax haven of Liechtenstein. City University said Medicor did not expect to be involved in the teaching of Islington pupils and that the “donation” was purely philanthropic.
New principal Ann Palmer said all teaching posts had been filled over August and pupils’ education would not suffer as a result of the upheaval.
She said: “Pupils at the City of London Academy can look forward to a productive and engaging academic year, safe in the knowledge that they will be fully supported by dedicated teachers.”

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I DON'T think it matters what the school is called at the end of the day I see NO change the staff at the school have very poor communication skills, as I found out last year.
Let's get teachers who care and that can communicate with parents
K. Rice