Packed Newham meeting against academies

Packed meeting opposing attempts to turn Shaftesbury School, Forest Gate, Newham into an academy 9 January 2018, photo Niall Mulholland (Click to enlarge)

Niall Mulholland, East London Socialist Party

A packed meeting took place on 9 January to oppose attempts to turn Shaftesbury School in Forest Gate, east London, into an academy.

Reports of strikes against academies at other schools in Newham were heard with complete opposition to cuts and privatisation.

But where were the local Labour councillors? What is their position on academisation?

It's been reported that Labour councillors have voted in support of academies at local constituency Labour Party meetings. Newham is in the middle of selecting councillors for the 3 May council elections.

If a new round of pro-academy Blairite councillors are selected, then campaigners may feel there is no choice but to stand against them in May to stop the tide of academies and austerity in Newham.

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