The BBC aired an article on the Politics Show on Sunday. It showed the demonstration on Friday and the strikes from the other week, but held back from airing the strongest words about the situation. It also had an interview with Doug ‘Diggler’ Blackledge, sounded like he had rule 1 from the Academy handbook in front of him (see here), coming out with the usual meaningless drivel.

He has also been reported as saying

‘We have asked that students finish on Friday July 10 and staff on Thursday July 16.’

‘This is completely normal practice in academy development and is essential to allow for resource management and reallocation to take place.’

Lie 1. Having approached some Academies in existence already we were told ‘That is utter nonsense, staff were well aware of procedures and practices put in place well before the closure of the incumbent schools.’

He goes on to say ‘This not because we are late with our planning, because we are on time.’

Lie 2. It is well known from reports from inside the new staff that the whole project is behind time and behind schedule and this IS exactly the reason for the early ILLEGAL closures.

Is this a record for Diggler? Two lies in two breaths!  

Lie 3. He is also on record as saying, though not in the same breath, on closing the schools early or opening late ‘This is not illegal as academies do not run to the same rules as normal schools’. It is true that normal rules do not apply but not that they are allowed to miss any days of the normal educational year. That is another bare faced lie interweaved in a deception of trying to throw people off the scent.

There was a fair turn out at the meeting on Friday, but it could have been better. We know there is more support than the turn out, but some had aimed to turn up towards the end, for the last half hour, but it was finished around five. That was no fault of the organisers, they did a fantastic  job.

A few teachers were spotted hiding in the background, behind bus shelters and the like, the attitude of the pupils that spotted them was brilliant.

“Oh there is Miss x hiding behind the bus shelter” and “there is  Mr y watching from the car park”

“They never let us down after all”

The comments about those people were so supportive and frankly surprising and really affectionate from the pupils that they teach. Pity they could not come forward and be part of the crowd. They know who they are. You have given the kids some hope, they know not teacher is against them now.

Shame on the rest of them, they could have easily been seen just walking through town at the right moment, not part of the meeting ‘just passing by’. Why so few were in town today is no surprise really but the fact that the only teacher that spoke up was from Lewisham proves the point!