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At the High Court on Wednesday: Back row, from left: Padraic Finn, John Brennan, Gary Kirk; front row, from left: Thomas Finn (pupil), Georgina Schueller and Alyson Moore (parents), Anthea Masey (ex-governor) and Bridget Chapman |
West End | News | Pimlico Academy | High Court | Judge Kenneth Parker QC | Jack Straw | New Labour's PFI
Judge rules substance of parent’s case is ‘misconceived in principle’ and doomed to fail
A HIGH Court judge has thrown out an appeal for a judicial review of Westminster Council’s decision to turn Pimlico School into an academy – prompting fears that experienced teachers will leave.
Parent Jenny Elphinstone was aiming to put the brakes on the council’s academy plan claiming “insufficient information” about the new school was available during consultation.
But Judge Kenneth Parker QC, following a two-day hearing, said the argument was “misconceived – not only in principle but also in substance” and there was “no prospect of success” for any further appeal.
“I will not be drawn into a political debate,” he added.
The decision brought down the curtain on a ferocious political campaign that began when Ofsted inspectors put the community school on special measures in November 2006.
Schools chiefs defied 96 per cent of parents responding to the consultation in June 2007 when they decided the best remedy for the “failing school” was to replace it with an academy.
Teachers, parents and pupils fought the plan on ideological grounds with a series of demonstrations outside City Hall and even an overnight protest camp in the school’s playground.
Many teachers are still scarred from a six-year battle against New Labour’s PFI proposals in the late-1990s, backed by former parent governor and cabinet minister Jack Straw.
But following Mr Parker’s ruling, the Pimlico diehards are considering jumping ship.
“The decision to turn Pimlico into an academy is morally bankrupt,” said Bridget Chapman.
“They have got what they wanted – I am leaving.”
The 37-year-old Pimlico English teacher has resigned, preferring the sanctity of an all-girls convent school in Lambeth to Pimlico.
Under the academy system, schools are removed from the control of the local authority and its sponsors – in this case a newly-formed charity with no experience in running inner London secondary schools – are given control of staffing, admissions and curriculum.
During the High Court hearing, Westminster Council’s barrister Tim Kerr QC – a sports law specialist whose previous clients include the world champion boxer Lennox Lewis, Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka and Formula 1 driver Jenson Button – said: “The academy will essentially be an independent school, just like Eton or Harrow. The only difference is that they are funded by the government.”
When the “failing” North Westminster community school in Paddington was demolished and transformed into two academies in 2006, experienced teachers left in their droves.
Padraic Finn, who teaches business studies and is secretary of Westminster NUT, said many Pimlico teachers would follow suit.
He said: “I think many teachers will be considering their position. There is now likely to be an enormous upheaval at the school leaving a gap in experienced teachers, who have taught at Pimlico for years and know the pupils.
“Instead of being accountable to locally elected representatives, academies are governed by the funding agreement between the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the wealthy sponsor.”
He added: “As Tony Benn said to a recent meeting of the Anti-Academies Alliance, we are returning to the 19th century when decisions were made by the wallet rather than the ballot.”
Pimlico teachers John Brennan and Gary Kirk said they were also considering their positions after being dealt a pay cut by Westminster Council this week.
Schools chiefs have slashed the school’s “recruitment and retention” budget, a pot of cash divided up between teachers who have taught at a school for three years or more.
Under the scheme, introduced to halt an alarming increase in teacher turnover in Westminster, the council offered loyal teachers a £1,000 bonus to stay-on.
Mr Kirk said: “We are now being offered something like £200 a year. This is a wage cut. Pimlico School’s teachers are the only teachers in Westminster that have been affected like this. We can only speculate why that is.”
Mr Finn added: “I think the recruitment and retention will tip the balance for most teachers – especially the young ones, who are struggling to pay back their loans.
“We will be balloting on this next week.”
A council spokesman said the pay cut was justified as the scheme “was never regarded as part of teachers’ basic substantive salary”, pointing to the estimated £100,000 cost to the taxpayer of the campaigners’ High Court challenge.
Councillor Sarah Richardson, Westminster’s lead member for schools, said: “Apart from diverting energies away from what really matters, this case has been a sad waste of council time and money.
“As an academy Pimlico will offer a broad and balanced curriculum and will provide a first class education to all pupils of all abilities.” |
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Your comments:
"As an academy Pimlico will offer a broad and balanced curriculum and will provide a first class education to all pupils of all abilities."
Bit like the other two Westminster academies then.....(nobody mention National Challenge and failing schools!).
Anthony Howard
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