City-wide school strikes in Liverpool are likely as anger grows over what is being described as the "reckless and ruthless" plan for the Catholic church to push schools across the region into large academy trusts.
In May, the ECHO was the first to exclusively reveal sweeping plans from the Archdiocese of Liverpool that would see hundreds of primary and secondary schools and several colleges across the Liverpool City Region placed into three super-trusts.
Currently, while the Archdiocese owns the buildings and land associated with many Catholic schools, they are operated through what is known as a Voluntary Aided system, where the schools are under the control of local authorities. Under these proposed changes, all 230 schools in its network will become academies under the Archdiocese and its three trusts, independent of local authority control.
Anger grows among parents and teachers
News of the planned changes and the way the Archdiocese has handled the process behind it had started to cause anger amongst parents and teachers of some of the schools involved.
At St Anthony of Padua Primary in Mossley Hill, teachers have already carried out three days of strike action - well supported by parents - in opposition to what they believe is the forcing through of this major change for their school without any real consultation. That strike action is currently suspended as talks over the school's future continue, but now other schools are starting to follow St Anthony of Padua's lead in objecting to the Archdiocese's reforms.
This was evident at a public meeting called by the National Education Union at Liverpool's Adelphi Theatre on Wednesday night. Around 60 people from across the city turned out to register their objections and concerns. This included parents, teachers, union members, local councillors and Liverpool MP Maria Eagle.
Union warns of further strikes
Speaking at the meeting, NEU branch joint secretary Graham Copsey said: "School governors have been told to vote for academisation because it is the Archbishop's will and have been told they will be removed if they don't vote for it."
He said the lack of any meaningful consultation on the proposals means the changes are being presented to staff and parents as a fait accompli, adding: "Our members are not willing to accept a fait accompli."
Mr Copsey warned of further strikes that could happen soon and raised the prospect of city-wide industrial action to push back on the Archdiocese's plans. He said: "We have already had three days of strikes at St Anthony of Padua with great support from parents. This is a good local school and the fear of the parents and teachers is that it will disappear if it is swallowed up into a large trust. Two more primary schools are set to ballot for strike action in the city. There will be strike action right across this city, the Archdiocese need to change these plans."
This was backed up by Unison organiser Paddy Creary, who said school support staff all across Liverpool are also now being balloted for potential strike action on this issue.
Parents and politicians speak out
The meeting also heard from Charlotte White, a parent of children at St Anthony of Padua, who spoke about how she and other parents have fought back against the Archdiocese. She said: "Why should a successful, financially secure school be pushed through in the first wave? These are changes that affect our schools, our children and our communities. We said we have questions, we want answers and we will keep going until we get them."
Politicians of different stripes were present at the lively meeting, with Liberal Democrat deputy leader Cllr Liz Makinson stating: "This is reckless, ruthless and riding roughshod over what people want. This is being railroaded through against the wishes of parents and teachers - you all have our full support."
Speaking to the ECHO back in May, Archbishop John Sherrington spoke about the rationale for the academisation plans. He said: "It is basically about the family in Christ working together for the good of all of the children who are at the centre of our educational work and mission."
He added: "Catholic education is very important because we are educating these children, these young people, in the context of the Church, in the context of their religious faith. It's an opportunity to really work to build and to transform every life, developing all dimensions of the person. So, we don't have simply an intellectual focus; we want to look at the role of information, emotion, spirituality, art, sport—all those things. So, we're concerned about the whole person. And I think we do this form of education very well, and so any others are attracted, can come and be attracted into our schools if there are places."
