November 2018 Update
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Dear friends and supporters,
Can we thank you for all your pledges and support. We raised enough money to seek legal advice from Leigh Day. After investigation we were advised by our solicitors that as parents we had a limited ability to challenge the Ofsted report published in March 2018 because we are still considered 'third party'. However our case was taken up by NEU staff and the Local Authority was forced to also seek legal advice on the possibility of a Judicial Review over the issue of being denied the right to make a stage 2 complaint about the Ofsted report in March 2018. This took place over the summer and the Local Authority (LA) reported to us in late September 2018. The legal advice to Greenwich Local Authority was that they had a case, but that Cath Smith's (the Head) support for Ofsted's judgement which was against the view of the vast majority of her teachers and support staff made the case weak, and the LA were not prepared to spend the funds taking the issue further. What we have shown through our campaign is that when Ofsted deny schools who have been judged 'inadequate' the right to appeal, they are currently acting unlawfully (Durand, 2017). This should give confidence to every school who is at the whim of Ofsted (a politically baised and compromised organisation in our view) that they should not accept these unfair and destructive judgements and they should challenge them and ensure that Ofsted is prevented from being used as the justification for forced academisation. We have over £992 left from the funds that we raised and we have decided that we are now going to pursue another potential legal case over the conduct of the John Roan Foundation. We have been made aware that the Foundation is under no obligation to lease it's buildings to a Multi Academy Trust and we have reason to believe that the way they have proceeded may be in breach of their aims and objectives as a charity. We hope you support our decision to use these funds for such an endeavour and we will be in touch if we think we have a strong enough case to pursue the issue further. Thanks for all your support and viva La Roan! |
October 2018 Statement
The Campaign Group Parents for John Roan are in support of the industrial action taken by the NEU. We are aware that many who say they are against the strikes are also vehemently opposed to academies. We would respond to that by saying we must be united in our fight, as a community and support the teachers who all want the very best for the students.
We are very much behind the rapid improvements happening within the school. We all want the best education for all our children; that is beyond doubt. However, the Parents for John Roan remain united in our stance against the forced academisation of our school to a MAT (Multi Academy Trust) with only 2 years experience and already running a deficit.
The teachers are striking to demand that OFSTED come back into the school and re-inspect. If the rapid improvements have impacted, there is no doubt the school will be found not to be inadequate. There is something the GB (Governing Body) and Head of the school could do; together with the LA they could put pressure on Ofsted to come back into the school. Instead, the GB are showing their usual cowardice and misguided compliance and taking their orders from the UST.
The Chair and the vice chair at GB are parent governors, the chair who is negotiating the deal with the UST is pro academy, has no educational experience and does not represent our views whatsoever.
Throughout this whole murky, debacle the UST have shown themselves to be predatory. The conflicts of interests aside; it must be remembered that the school failed an Ofsted with the UST already in the school as a 'support package'. Over 1000 people have signed our petition against the forced academisation of John Roan. We will continue to demand that the school is re-inspected and the academy order rescinded.
We urge John Roan parents' to write to the GB and the local authority demanding our school get re-inspected. Save our school!
We are very much behind the rapid improvements happening within the school. We all want the best education for all our children; that is beyond doubt. However, the Parents for John Roan remain united in our stance against the forced academisation of our school to a MAT (Multi Academy Trust) with only 2 years experience and already running a deficit.
The teachers are striking to demand that OFSTED come back into the school and re-inspect. If the rapid improvements have impacted, there is no doubt the school will be found not to be inadequate. There is something the GB (Governing Body) and Head of the school could do; together with the LA they could put pressure on Ofsted to come back into the school. Instead, the GB are showing their usual cowardice and misguided compliance and taking their orders from the UST.
The Chair and the vice chair at GB are parent governors, the chair who is negotiating the deal with the UST is pro academy, has no educational experience and does not represent our views whatsoever.
Throughout this whole murky, debacle the UST have shown themselves to be predatory. The conflicts of interests aside; it must be remembered that the school failed an Ofsted with the UST already in the school as a 'support package'. Over 1000 people have signed our petition against the forced academisation of John Roan. We will continue to demand that the school is re-inspected and the academy order rescinded.
We urge John Roan parents' to write to the GB and the local authority demanding our school get re-inspected. Save our school!
COMMUNITIES ARE FIGHTING AGAINST CONTINUATION OF THE ACADEMY PROJECT THROUGH A NEW FILM: STOP THE GREAT SCHOOLS ROBBERY. READ MORE AND SUPPORT HERE.
Parents Letter to David Skinner The Chair of Governors October 30th |
Parents Complaint to Ofsted
Parents Questions to the UST
You can contact Grahame Price, CEO of UST at info@ust.london. Their website is https://www.ust.london/
Councillor Fahy has just resigned from the Governing Body of the Royal Greenwich Trust School (UST school) due to what he finds as 'their predatory action in repect of the Johh Roan'. He can be contacted at: john.fahy@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
Councillor Fahy has just resigned from the Governing Body of the Royal Greenwich Trust School (UST school) due to what he finds as 'their predatory action in repect of the Johh Roan'. He can be contacted at: john.fahy@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
Other possible questions for the UST include:
Parents concerns for the Head and the Governors
You can contact the Governors at: governors@thejohnroan.greenwich.sch.uk
Parent Questions for the John Roan Foundation
Unfortunately the school currently does not give direct contact information for the John Roan Foundation. However you can email the school governors who are also Foundation members at: governors@thejohnroan.greenwich.sch.uk
According to the website there are 4 Foundation Governors: Linda Karlsen (also Chair of Governors); Linda Nelson; Michael Smith; and Chris Strong.
The school lists the current Foundation Trustees as: Linda Nelson; Viv Lawrence ; Chris Deane; Mick Moore; Alex Wilson; Malcolm Smith (Staff; David Grant; Chris Strong; Patrick Cooper; Ivy McGeorge; Jan Farmer.
According to the website there are 4 Foundation Governors: Linda Karlsen (also Chair of Governors); Linda Nelson; Michael Smith; and Chris Strong.
The school lists the current Foundation Trustees as: Linda Nelson; Viv Lawrence ; Chris Deane; Mick Moore; Alex Wilson; Malcolm Smith (Staff; David Grant; Chris Strong; Patrick Cooper; Ivy McGeorge; Jan Farmer.
JRSA - THE JOHN ROAN PARENTS ASSOCIATION - MEETINGS AND SOCIALS COMING UP!!!...
If you would like to meet up with other parents in a relaxed, social setting contact the JRSA and book a ticket at their annual BBQ - Friday July 6th 5-9pm at Westcombe Park. Email jrsa@thejohnroan.greenwich.sch.uk. Tickets for the BBQ are £6 for adults and £4.50 for children. For more information about the JRSA and how to get involved read here.
If you would like to meet up with other parents in a relaxed, social setting contact the JRSA and book a ticket at their annual BBQ - Friday July 6th 5-9pm at Westcombe Park. Email jrsa@thejohnroan.greenwich.sch.uk. Tickets for the BBQ are £6 for adults and £4.50 for children. For more information about the JRSA and how to get involved read here.
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Parent / Staff Meeting at The Forum, Greenwich Tuesday 12th June 6pm.
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Parents invited JR Staff to a parents to discuss the future of the JR school in the wake of the recent Ofsted grading. The school management and governing body have yet to confirm how they wish to bring the community together to ensure all stakeholders have a voice in any decision making on the future of the school so Parents for John Roan organised a space for parents to come together to ask questions and air their views.
This meeting was a chance to discuss for example: - concerns regarding the inspection process itself - grounds to challenge any Academy Order that may be forthcoming - can parents have a ballot... meet with Governors/Trustees etc... - information and ideas exchange on how to campaign to keep JR an LA run school - the role of the Governing Body and the Trustees of the JR Foundation in the decision making process - information on why staff have voted to strike if they are faced with a change in working conditions and transfer of employment from the LA to a MAT - the record of Academisation - success rates, accountability, transparency, parent choice and voice within the system etc - implications of any Academisation of the JR - what buildings and facilities will be handed over to private management on a 125 year lease - information and questions on who and what are these MATs e.g. UST PARENTS PRESENT AT THE MEETING UNANIMOUSLY VOTED AGAINST THE ACADEMISATION OF THE JOHN ROAN. Please contact other parents at parentsforjohnroan@gmail.com to have your say! Postponing an Academy Order
Parents for John Roan have already written to Dominic Herrington to ask that he gives the school a chance to work with the LA on a School Improvement Plan. Please contact him in support of this at: rsc.sesl@education.gsi.gov.uk.
Role of the JR Foundation
The John Roan Foundation Trustees manage the Trust that owns the Maze Hill Building and the JR Playing fields. They would need to vote in favour of Academisation in order for the conversion to go through. Parents for John Roan have already contacted the Foundation and they urge other parents to contact trustees AND governors to ask for clarity and a voice in any upcoming decisions. A Governing Body meeting is coming up on 25th June.
Why are we concerned about Academisation?
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Their statement of intent:
As parents we care deeply about the future of our children's education. Everything we have seen and read about academies will be bad for their school and the education of all children. We have always valued the hard work and dedication John Roan teachers have shown to our children and others' - examples are far too numerous to mention but teachers go the extra mile so often. We have especially welcomed the continuity and sustained support staff have managed over the last three years despite turmoil at the top.
We stood by you in opposition to academisation and job and course cuts in 2016 and will do so again today in the face of (forced) academisation. Days of strike action are in no way more disruptive as months of inadequate heads or years of a school run on a business model by an unaccountable organisation.
We know you don't take strike action lightly - we note that there were no local disputes under Des Malone or even under Catherine Wensley - however we all have to do everything we can to defend our community school.
We are proud that parents and teachers and other staff and commnity members are standing up for John Roan. Together we can save our community school and work to ensuring it has a sucessful and sustainable future.
Signed by
Parents for John Roan
As parents we care deeply about the future of our children's education. Everything we have seen and read about academies will be bad for their school and the education of all children. We have always valued the hard work and dedication John Roan teachers have shown to our children and others' - examples are far too numerous to mention but teachers go the extra mile so often. We have especially welcomed the continuity and sustained support staff have managed over the last three years despite turmoil at the top.
We stood by you in opposition to academisation and job and course cuts in 2016 and will do so again today in the face of (forced) academisation. Days of strike action are in no way more disruptive as months of inadequate heads or years of a school run on a business model by an unaccountable organisation.
We know you don't take strike action lightly - we note that there were no local disputes under Des Malone or even under Catherine Wensley - however we all have to do everything we can to defend our community school.
We are proud that parents and teachers and other staff and commnity members are standing up for John Roan. Together we can save our community school and work to ensuring it has a sucessful and sustainable future.
Signed by
Parents for John Roan
Resources for parents who want to get involved - click on icons
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These resources above will give you information about how parents, schools and communities are taking action on issues in Education that are of concern, from increasing Academisation to SATs. These organisations often have both webpages and facebook pages. Check them out to get information and get involved.
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The Corporate Structure around the UST
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I am a parent of a former John Roan School pupil. In the 1 May letter from the Governors to staff the Governors say that they have had exploratory talks with the University Schools Trust with regard to Multi Academy Trusts. University Schools Trust includes two corporate partners: XL Catlin and Wates Construction.
XL Catlin is part of the XL Group, headquartered, for tax reasons, in Bermuda. The XL Group is being bought up by the AXA Group. AXA is a French multinational corporation which is the world's second biggest financial services (banking, insurance, brokerage etc) company, if measured by annual revenue. The majority of its capital is US-owned. Much of the XL Group's business is in insurance and reinsurance. Among its directors sits Sir John M Vereker, former Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Bermuda. Other XL directors are drawn from financial corporations such as Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, KPMG, AXA, Bank of America, Lloyds insurance plus the Ford Motor Company. Hardly educationalists, as we have know them. Wates Construction is part of the Wates Group 'one of the largest family-owned construction, development and property services' firms in Britain. Wates has the contract for Brook House, part of the Gatwick detention centre that featured in the BBC Panorama programme on mistreatment of detainees last September. In the recent period Wates has built blocks on the Greenwich Peninsula, including a 32 storey block. It has contracts to renovate Millbank House for the House of Lords and for the Houses of Parliament. Wates is building a facility at RAF Marham which will house the new F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft. It is engaged to build assorted educational related facilities eg in Derby, Nottingham and Cambridge. Until very recently Wates' Chief Executive was Andrew Davies who was appointed in 2014 'following a long a successful career at BAE Systems'. Davies has been replaced by Dave Allen, formerly of HSBC and Crossrail. Among the Wates Groups directors sits David Barclay, former private secretary to Margaret Thatcher, when she was Prime Minister. It is not just the corporate take over of education; I suggest that what we are seeing being unfolded (as in health) is a strategy to create health and education multinationals. Trevor Rawnsley |
