School’s out as the staff go on strike over Durham Academy
May 8 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal
TEACHERS striking against academy plans were greeted with noisy messages of support from locals, despite an MP’s claim that the idea had support.
Roberta Blackman Woods, MP for Durham City, claimed a survey conducted on her behalf showed an overwhelming majority of local people were in favour of merging two schools to form an academy. But 30 staff who picketed outside the gates of Belmont School against plans to merge it with Gilesgate Sports College won messages of support from passing motorists.
The one-day strike was organised by the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) and led to the closure of the school to 600 pupils.
Only Year 11 students who were preparing for GCSE examinations attended yesterday and teachers crossed the picket line to teach them.
Simon Kennedy, regional officer for the union, said: “We are taking this industrial action with a heavy heart. But we do have the support of parents and of the community who want to keep an integral part of the community.
“Our message to the county council is not to throw away the crown jewels.”
Mr Kennedy and senior union officials are meeting education bosses in Durham later this month to try to persuade them to save Belmont.
