It is understood Downhills will become a sponsored academy under the Harris Federation. Picture: Tony Gay.

Teachers at Downhills in Tottenham to strike over academy conversion

by Tim Lamden Wednesday, April 11, 2012
5:53 PM

Teachers at Downhills primary school in South Tottenham are set to strike over the school’s forced academy conversion.

The plans were announced at this year’s annual National Union of Teachers (NUT) conference, which was held over five days in Torquay until Tuesday.

Haringey NUT secretary Julie Davies told the Journal: “In the end, what has happened, and is continuing to happen, at Downhills is so unjust that our members felt they had to take a stand.

“They are very worried about the future because it looks like almost anything could happen.”

Last month, the Department for Education (DfE) removed the Philip Lane school’s governing body, which opposed the planned academy conversion, and replaced it with an interim board of its own choosing.

The school currently remains under the control of Haringey Council but it is understood it will become a sponsored academy under the Harris Federation.

Ms Davies said that all 22 NUT members at the school voted in favour of holding a ballot to decide whether teachers at the school should strike.

She explained: “A ballot will take place as soon as a timetable has been drawn up. Our members at the school are being forced to change their employer and their conditions are threatened.

“We had to think long and hard about the risks they might be taking because the Harris Federation are not people who have much experience of teachers’ professional associations and we are worried about victimisation.”

Yesterday, a solicitor for Downhills parent Susan Moyse received a response to her pre-action letter for a judicial review of the DfE’s actions concerning the school, which she is currently considering.