MPs and parents ask Diocese of Brentwood to think again on academisation

The pressure is growing on the Catholic diocese of Brentwood to think again about its policy of seeking to convert its schools into academies.

Locally, the newly formed Our Lady of Lourdes school campaigning group, OLOL E11 Parents, has conducted a survey which found just 4% of parents support academisation. Some 48% oppose, whilst 30% do not consider they had enough information to make a decision.

The survey received 206 responses from parents.

Adding to the opposition to academisation, MPs covering Redbridge, Newham, Waltham Forest and Barking and Dagenham have written a letter to Bishop of Brentwood Alan Williams calling on him to think again. The MPs point to the excellent record of the Catholic schools across the boroughs working in partnership with the local authorities. “There is a strong case for remaining part of the local family of schools within our boroughs,” says the letter, signed by eight MPs, including John Cryer (Leyton and Wanstead), Wes Streeting (Ilford North), Mike Gapes (Ilford South), Lyn Brown (West Ham) and Jon Cruddas (Dagenham and Rainham). “The evidence suggests, neither financial nor school improvement benefits necessarily accrue from academies.”  

The diocese thus far has been unresponsive. It was invited to address an Redbridge Council Education Scrutiny Committee last month but declined, declaring the exercise would be “fruitless.”

In Redbridge, parents at Our Lady Lourdes, St Augustines and St Anthony’s have mobilised against the academisation. Last week, the campaigning organisation Redbridge Against Academies was re-formed. Previously, this organisation defeated the efforts a few years ago to academise Snaresbrook Primary School.

Redbridge Against Academies will be battling on a number of fronts. There has though already been success with the Secretary of State revoking the academy order on William Torbitt school.

There is much work to be done to halt the academisation process in Redbridge. It must be hoped that Bishop Alan Williams switches to listening mode when it comes to those who make up the bedrock of the excellent Catholic schools network in the diocese. The success of these schools thus far has been due to the commitment of staff, parents, children and the local authority. This public partnership has worked well to date, why change it? Whilst there are no doubt good academies, there are also many horror stories. Why when things are working so well under local authority partnership change the recipe?

published in Wanstead & Woodford Guardian -28 /2/2019 - paper
                                                                                   - 2/2/2019 - online