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From The Socialist newspaper, 6 December 2017
School staff strike against privatisation
Avenue Primary School, Newham strike 29 November 2017, photo Martin Powell-Davies (Click to enlarge)
Helen Pattison, East London Socialist Party
Outside Avenue Primary School parents and the community stood with striking school staff against becoming an academy on 29 November.
The group filled the pavement and at its peak around 80 people were outside the school.
A group of students whose classes were closed came to the picket line with their parents and led us all in chanting: "Shame on the head teacher", "shame on the deputies" and "shame on the governors".
The local members of the National Education Union have done an amazing job. They have recruited new members during the campaign against academies.
But most importantly they have discussed with parents that academy status won't improve the school.
One parent reported that she was told by a member of management it will make the school like Eton if they turn it into an academy.
But the staff and anti-academies campaign is clear, there is no extra money on offer but pay of head teachers and management would likely rise.
We will continue to back the campaign as we fight academies in Newham.
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In The Socialist 6 December 2017:
NHS
Glenfield victory shows people power can save our NHS
Tyneside walk-in closures postponed after rally
Socialist Party news and analysis
Rough sleeping crisis: make homes, not arrests
Royal wedding exposes them-and-us visa system
RBS to sack 1,000: nationalise the banks
Branson sues NHS: kick out the profiteers
Women
Fighting sexism, violence and capitalism - an international struggle
What we think
Corbyn's Labour can defeat Tories with socialist programme
Labour council Blairites deselected
Socialist Students
Demonstrations by uni students and staff greet Bath vice-chancellor resignation
Liverpool John Moores Uni landslide for Socialist Students
TUSC conference to debate 2018 elections
Plans to launch no-cuts campaign at Kirklees College
Coventry Socialist sales hit 1,000
Waltham Forest Universal Credit protest
Court maintains injunction against fracking protesters
Socialist readers' comments and reviews
Dramatic retelling of Grunwick strike hits all the right notes
Blairite horror and Labour's divisions graphically exposed
Comment: Socialism and truth about Zane
Workplace news and analysis
PCS Left Unity celebrates 40th anniversary at annual conference
Brutal rail privateer Abellio takes over Midlands rail services
School staff strike against privatisation
Driving examiners walkout hits first day of new test
BT pensions review - oppose the attacks on the pension schemes
Arriva bus strikers stand firm
International socialist news and analysis
Irish capitalist state: rotten to the core
Mobilise to stop bigoted billionaire Donald Trump's state visit to Britain
Trump's tax plan: Robin Hood in reverse
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