Pupils and staff casualties of another failure of Government policy
Delegates at the TUC Congress were today told that, for the sake of thousands of students, parents and staff, the Government must urgently commission an independent inquiry into last weeks’ shock announcement that Wakefield City Academies Trust is to abandon 21 schools it operates.
In the debate on the emergency motion the NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union called on the Government to act immediately for the sake of pupils and staff in the Trust’s schools and to review how many other pupils and staff are at risk of facing the same crisis.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT said:
“For the pupils and staff in these schools instead of starting the new academic year with stability and optimism, they now face chaos and confusion as the academy trust collapses around them.
“This isn’t the first example of a trust collapsing, putting in jeopardy the future of young people and the livelihoods of teachers and other staff. Regrettably it won’t be the last.
“How many more pupils, parents and staff must face this anxiety before the Government acts to address the major flaws in its academisation programme.”
Moving the motion NASUWT’s Robert Barratt told delegates:
“The Government is playing Russian roulette with the lives and futures of our children and young people.
“An urgent, independent inquiry into what happened at the Wakefield Academies Trust is needed.
“The sponsors of this and other failed academy trusts cannot be permitted to simply hand schools back to the government and walk away. It is important that lessons are learned and those responsible are held to account.”
