Teachers prepared to strike over academies

Apr 23 2009 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

A TEACHERS’ union leader said his members were likely to strike this term after education bosses pressed ahead with controversial plans to form three new academies.

Despite opposition from parents, school governors, staff and local residents, Durham County Council’s Cabinet agreed to go ahead with three new academies in Consett, Durham and Stanley.

The academies will be created by merging Belmont and Gilesgate schools in Durham, Moorside and Consett Sports College in Consett, and Stanley School of Technology with Greencroft in Stanley.

Although governors at Moorside, Stanley School of Technology and Belmont all appealed to the Cabinet against merging their schools, their appeals went unheeded.