Baroness of Moulsecoomb joins Green Councillors against forced academisation of Moulsecoomb Primary

Baroness Jenny Jones, Green Party Member of the House of Lords, announces her support for the campaign against the conversion order at Moulsecoomb Primary School.

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb will join the public meeting held at Moulsecoomb Primary at 7pm on Tuesday 18th June [1]. She will be joined by other Green Party colleagues, including Convenor of the Green Group of Councillors Phélim Mac Cafferty.

The Regional Schools Commissioner and Secretary of State for Education have the power to impose a ‘conversion order’ for the school. The meeting will bring together parents and the local community to discuss how they will resist the school being converted to an academy.

The Green Party Peer grew up in the local area and attended the school from 1955.

Baroness Jenny Jones said:

“Academies have not shown they improve results and yet the Government continues its ideological agenda to force academisation on schools like Moulsecoomb. As a former pupil, I am proud to join the campaign to say Hands Off Moulsecoomb Primary.

“Working with Caroline Lucas MP, I will lobby the Government to change their misguided policy and do what is best for pupils – giving their schools the funding they need to succeed.”

Figures from the School Cuts campaign website estimate a loss of loss of £595 funding per pupil at Moulsecoomb Primary since 2015-16. [2]

This announcement comes after the Green Group of Councillors has jointly proposed a motion [3] with the Labour Group of Councillors, which will be discussed at the Children, Young People and Skills Committee on Monday 17th June.

The proposal calls for a parental and carer ballot to be conducted at the school. This would determine support for the conversion. The results of the ballot will be shared with the Regional Schools Commissioner who will make the final decision on academisation.

Councillor Elaine Hills, Green Group Spokesperson on the Children, Young People and Skills Committee said:

“Greens have a strong track record of opposing academisation in the city. In administration, we forced a parental ballot to be held at Hove Park School, which found 71 percent of parents against.

“We are pleased to work with the Labour Group of Councillors and campaigners on ensuring that the pupils of Moulsecoomb Primary receive what is best – remaining as a locally maintained school. We urge everyone to sign the petition to show our support for Moulsecoomb Primary.”

A petition by campaign group Hands Off Moulsecoomb Primary has already received more than 2,000 signatures. [4]

Notes

[1] https://www.facebook.com/events/346404316078109/

[2] https://schoolcuts.org.uk/schools/?chosenSchool=8462002

[3] https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/Published/C00000883/M00009731/AI00073948/$NoMLabGrnGrpsAcademisation.docA.ps.pdf

[4] https://www.change.org/p/no-to-the-forced-academisation-of-moulsecoomb-primary-school?recruiter=27470508

News

To top