MP defends survey on Durham academy

May 9 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal

AN MP has defended a survey which claims support for a controversial academy school.

On Thursday staff at Belmont School in Durham staged a one-day strike against plans to close it and merge with another in the city, Gilesgate Community Sports College, to form an academy under private sponsorship.

Governors, staff and parents of Belmont pupils argue that it is a successful and popular school and should not be closed.

They questioned the results of a survey by the city’s Labour MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods, which said a large majority of those who responded were in favour.

Dr Blackman-Woods, along with fellow Labour MPs Hilary Armstrong and Kevan Jones, are in favour of new academies being built in Durham, Consett, and Stanley. The MP said yesterday: “My survey was distributed to every household in the catchment area of Belmont and Gilesgate schools in November and December last year. It was striking that people often felt they did not have sufficient information about the proposals, but when given very basic details, they became positive.”

But Simon Kennedy, regional officer of the National Union of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), whose members took the strike action on Thursday, said: “The NASUWT did not want to take action but the council have ignored parents, pupils, governors and staff who are united in opposing the closure of Belmont and the establishment of an academy.

“In the consultation the county council conducted, 85% of people responded in rejecting the academy. The council ignored them and voted to close Belmont and open an academy.”