The protest outside Pimlico Academy

• WE should be proud of the way that students peacefully protested at Pimlico Academy, (School’s out, April 2).

The issues that they raised are serious and include:

– a discriminatory uniform policy, including instructing students how to wear hijabs;

– a lack of sensitivity to diversity reflected in approaches to the curriculum, removing Black History Month from teaching; and

– concerns about student safety.

Many members of the local community have expressed concern to me not just about these issues but also about how they are subsequently being handled by the school and trust (Future Academies).

There was a real hope that a constructive and conciliatory approach was being adopted by the academy in light of the protests; and certainly some of the students felt at the end of term that their concerns were being taken seriously.

But instead of approaching the protest in a constructive and conciliatory way, the management and academy trust have made things worse.

Parents I spoke to were furious at the letter from the academy trust chairman, Lord Nash, which they perceived to be both threatening and insensitive.

This was followed and compounded by a further letter from the academy to parents of particular pupils who have been invited to attend disciplinary meetings.

This amounts to bullying and hectoring instead of reaching out and building bridges. The parents I have spoken to no longer have confidence in the head or Lord Nash.

With teachers, pupils, and parents alienated I’m afraid we’ve reached a point where a fresh start is needed, and that begins with the management.

It is time for the Department for Education to step in decisively and restore faith in the school and its governance.

CLLR TIM ROCA
Labour Education Spokesperson