Building schools for the future - Unison
Building schools for the future - Unison
Building schools for the future - Unison
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24<br />
BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE<br />
teacher workloads and <strong>the</strong>y have also voiced concerns about <strong>the</strong> establishment of academies. The<br />
following is an extract of campaigning advice from <strong>the</strong> NUT to local councillors “Any diminution in<br />
services to <strong>schools</strong> will have a negative impact on <strong>the</strong> national strategy. Academies are not accountable<br />
to local communities. When a local council opts to set up an academy, it relinquishes responsibility to<br />
<strong>the</strong> school and <strong>for</strong> its resources. These become <strong>the</strong> property of a private sponsor. Handing over<br />
public property, premises and land that is owned by <strong>the</strong> local authority to academy sponsors is ‘selling<br />
off <strong>the</strong> family silver’!”<br />
O<strong>the</strong>r NJC and craft unions may also have an interest in BSF particularly if <strong>the</strong>y organise in areas along<br />
traditional lines. O<strong>the</strong>r in-house services that could be affected by BSF are building maintenance,<br />
grounds maintenance, school transport services, and security and in<strong>for</strong>mation technology.<br />
Action point 13<br />
Branches should include a communications component in <strong>the</strong>ir BSF strategy. It should keep<br />
affected members briefed as well as <strong>the</strong> wider union, raise public awareness of <strong>the</strong> issues<br />
and draw on <strong>the</strong> support of o<strong>the</strong>r unions, councillors, governors, parents and <strong>the</strong> media.