June 2018 Key Dates and Events...
Monday 25th June Governors Meeting 7pm
Parents formed a Lobby to ask the Governors to hold their decision on accepting this academy order until the legal challenge has been decided. The Governors chose to change the location of the meeting and hold it an hour earlier rather than invite parents to speak to the Governors. Parents did hand in letters of concern but the Chair of Governors said that they had no time for questions. Unfortunately the GB does not seem to want to engage with the real parental concerns about the speed and untransparent manner in which the future of the school is being decided. If you share these concerns or have any questions for the parents involved in fighting the academisation of the JR please contact the parents group at parentsforjohnroan@gmail.com or email your questions or any concerns to the Governors directly at at governors@thejohnroan.greenwich.sch.uk
Some examples of questions and concerns can be found here: Tuesday 26th June JR Public Meeting 7pm
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In the absense of any attempt by the School Leadership and Governors to facilitate a whole stakeholders meeting the JR NEU organised this meeting to bring the community together. The meeting was well attended and had some great (and enlightening) speakers, from teachers who had worked for the UST, to the General Secretary of the NEU, the largest Education Trade Union and academics who have researched the ideological academies programme, and parents who are passionate in their objection to both the school's recent Ofsted grading and any move to academise the school. See below for some clips of the speakers. Contact the thejohnroannut@gmail.com for more details on what was covered on the night.
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Wednesday 27th June Greenwich Council Meeting 7pm
Parents organised a deputation to the Council seeking clarification on their support for the school and whether the Council will put into place a school improvement plan to allow the school to stay an LA maintained school. Email parentsforjohnroan@gmail.com for details of how it went.
HALT THE ACADEMY ORDER!
The Regional Schools Commissioner, Dominic Herrington, is the Government official who made the decision to deliver an Academy Order on June 12th . Please email him to ask him to reconsider allowing the LA to work with the school and the new Head Teacher on a school improvement plan. His email address is rsc.sesl.@education.gsi.gov.uk. Some concerns about any forced academisation without a transparent and meaningful consultation period are:
- staff and many parents do not believe the interests of its students are best met through becoming part of an academy group.
- the Headteacher, Cath Smith, was only appointed shortly before the inspection and deserves an opportunity to implement the changes necessary in the school without the distraction of converting to an academy.
- the JR is a good local school, rooted in its community and loved and respected by generations of local people. A strong sustainable school improvement plan can be implemented through consultation and co-operation between the school and the Greenwich LEA rather than handing over the management and land and facilities of a publically funded school to a private company.
- staff, parents, students, and the community deserve a voice in any discussion and decision making process about the future of this historic community school.
- staff and many parents do not believe the interests of its students are best met through becoming part of an academy group.
- the Headteacher, Cath Smith, was only appointed shortly before the inspection and deserves an opportunity to implement the changes necessary in the school without the distraction of converting to an academy.
- the JR is a good local school, rooted in its community and loved and respected by generations of local people. A strong sustainable school improvement plan can be implemented through consultation and co-operation between the school and the Greenwich LEA rather than handing over the management and land and facilities of a publically funded school to a private company.
- staff, parents, students, and the community deserve a voice in any discussion and decision making process about the future of this historic community school.
ONLINE AND PRINT COVERAGE
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Read how Parents have appealed to RBG Council to work with the school to develop a school improvement plan... HERE
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Parents of children at John Roan School in Greenwich set to take Ofsted to Court
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Read Callum Fraser's article for the South London Press & Mercury HERE
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Greenwich Council's Director of Childrens Services, Cllr David Gardner vows that Greenwich Council will resist any attempt to force The John Roan School to become an Academy. Read an account of the Public Meeting he spoke at here..->.
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May 2018
Dear Damian Hinds, your academy policy is whim and dogma Michael Rosen in the Guardian HERE
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A timely reminder that questions are being asked at the highest level on whether forcing a school to become an academy delivers value for money over working within the LA on a School Improvement Plan. Jonathan Slater, permanent secretary at the DfE had no clear answer.
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22nd May 2018
Fears that The John Roan will be forced to become an Academy
Town hall chiefs and politicians have pledged their support to parents and teachers concerned that a school in South-east London may be forced to become an academy. Matthew Pennycook, MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, said: “Ofsted’s final inspection report has not been finalised and published, so nothing is known for certain. “But I am clear that I will oppose any attempt to forcibly convert The John Roan to an academy as a means of addressing underperformance at the school."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE
Matthew Pennycock's letter of concern to
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Ofsted's response to Matthew Pennycock's Parliamentary Question |
Please read the NEWS ARTICLES section below for recent discussions on Teaching and Policy Making. We welcome your feedback on these issues
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