Save our schools: teacher unions to lobby Parliament

Save our schools - rally and lobby of Parliament
Monday 19 July
1pm rally at Methodist Central Hall, 2.30pm lobby of MPs

NUT general secretary, Christine Blower, has written this letter to the union's members (it landed in my inbox today):

'Following the announcement of cuts to the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme and to coincide with the Second Reading of the Academies Bill in the House of Commons it has been agreed by the education unions to organise a rally and lobby of Parliament on 19 July 2010.

Although the NUT has long had concerns about aspects of the BSF programme, the fact that over 700 schools will not get the new buildings they badly need and have long been promised is appalling. The way the Government handled the announcement - publishing error strewn lists of schools and without consulting the schools and local authorities concerned - is an additional disgrace.

Many parents, teachers and other school staff are deeply concerned about the impact of these cuts and believe that cutting school building projects is unnecessary and will jeopardise the educational future of many children and young people, particularly those in greatest need. To make matters worse, the Government has chosen to exploit the remaining schools' building programmes to benefit a privileged few pupils on the basis of targeting funding to academy schools.

If funding to your school has been cut, I would encourage you to support the lobby - if possible by your school sending one member of staff or governor or parent to Westminster to lobby their MP. There will be a rally at Methodist Central Hall from 1pm-2pm on Monday 19 July, followed by a lobby of MPs from 2.30pm. Further details can be found at www.teachers.org.uk/saveourschools

The Union appreciates that many members will not be able to attend this lobby. We invite you, therefore, to visit our website at www.teachers.org.uk/saveourschools to arrange a meeting locally with your MP and/or write to them if you are concerned about the impact of BSF cuts in their constituency.

Members are also encouraged to go to www.teachers.org.uk/academies to email their MPs about the Academies Bill which does not allow for proper consultation with staff, parents and pupils before a school becomes an Academy.

Thank you for your support for the NUT's campaign to save our schools.'


Share