Protesters return to Walsall tonight over SEND school academy plans

Teachers and other members of staff at Elmwood School on King George Crescent have been on strike since Tuesday, March 11.

Every day last week the school was only partially opened, and this week again, it will be partially opened until Thursday.

Plans for the school to be taken on by the Matrix Academy Trust were announced last year and have faced fierce opposition from parents and staff.

Matthew Raine, spokesperson for the National Education Union, said if the move was to go ahead, it would ‘result in a loss of £700 worth of funding per pupil’.

Staff also have concerns over the lack of accountability within corporate structure of multi academy trusts.

On Tuesday March 25, several people gathered outside the school gates from as early as 7am, and then to the Walsall council house ahead of the education and scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday night.

Tonight, April 7, protesters will return to Lichfield Street, outside the council house, before the 6pm meeting of full council.

At the meeting, two questions and a notice of motion will be put forward to the portfolio holder for education regarding the controversial plans.

Member of the public Lee Jeavons has will ask whether the transfer to Matrix will protect the ethos and specialisms of Elmwood School, and Raine will ask what information the council has received about the transfer.

Leader and deputy leader of the independent group, councillor Aftab Nawaz and councillor Khizar Hussain have called for transparent consultation with parents, including teachers’ and NEU’s views.

They’ve also called for parents to have a binding vote on the academisation, and a requirement for Matrix Academy Trust to share its business plan with all stakeholders.

Councillor Aftab Nawaz said: “This is about local democracy. Local people should have a say in the running of the children’s schools.”