Save Our Schools

http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/latestnews/Exclusive-Haling-Manor-headteacher-admits-defeat-bid-job/article-871302-detail/article.html

It is our view that, if Lord Harris were to do the decent thing, he would withdraw and Dave Hill should feel embarrassed if what is reported in the article is true: "Even Dave Hill conceded "we all feel terrible about what's happening to John" after he was at the receiving end of angry words from the floor demanding Mr Troake stay."

Now look at some of the things it says in the Expression of Interest submitted to the DCSF:

At the Haling Manor public meeting Lord Harris made a point of talking about the higher salaries in Harris Academies. At one of the teachers' conferences over Easter, one teacher told us that he had been persuaded to sign a Harris contract because of the increase in money. However, he reported that he regretted not having read it carefully before signing. He no longer works in the academy - he left.

We have acquired a copy of a Harris Academy contract of employment:

Both Lord Harris and Steve Chalke spent a lot of time emphasising that their academies fostered a "can do culture". Perhaps this is one of the unfortunate side effects of Obama's oratory but there is another view:

The Academy programme was modelled partly on Sweden. It appears that after 20 years, there is considerable debate in Sweden whether it is working. The main beneficiaries are the middle classes, to the detriment of those the scheme was supposed to benefit - those living in deprived areas.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/apr/05/education-conservatives-sweden-schools