Union chief and MP's call for Academy action (From Basildon Recorder)

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

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.”