Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Ode to Michael Gove (following the sacking of Downhills Governing Body)
Here's something I wrote in response to the sacking of the Governing Body at Downhills Primary School in Tottenham and how angry and disenfrachised it's making us all feel:
ODE TO MICHAEL GOVE
There once was a fella named Gove
That only his mother could love
The Downhills GB
Said ‘NO ACADEMY’
And so he just gave ‘em the shove
But that’s not the end of the story
Be you Labour, LibDem or a Tory
Democracy’s dead
You have put it to bed
And the future is looking quite gory
Revolution is not the Brit way
At least that’s what most people say
But you’ve pushed us some more
You’ve caused a furore
And Govey, you might rue the day
In Tottenham we fight for our schools
We’re not ‘Trots’, but nor are we fools
We won’t let you butcher
Our dear children’s future
Just ‘cos we don’t play by your rules
Yes, it’s ‘carve ‘em up’ time for the state
The NHS and our schools on a plate
But is it improvement
Or big assets movement?
It’s the greed and the lies that we hate
‘Sponsor’ Harris sell carpets and mats
The rug trade has made them fat cats
But kids all find flooring
Incredibly boring
And we doubt it’ll help with their SATS
So here’s one last thought, Mr Gove
Since you seem to have something to prove
Take your ‘sponsor’
And stick it up yer bum, Sir
And then let us see how you move!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Seema Chandwani on
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LOOOOOOOOOOL You are so cute when you get all frustrated
Willy, firstly I had supplied two articles in a previous post, one of which outlined the exam success & exclusion rate of Harris Academies, it doesn't make me believe these are the right people for school improvements.
I am not Abbot or Corbyn, I am me & regardless of my party preference it is a democratic party of which I am democratically voicing my opinion, it is not a cult & I dont do the following of others. So that old "I found a couple in your party that dont think like you" rubbish... is cheap, but pointless as we are all individuals & are allowed to think differently.
As you are one of the only Tory representatives in Tottenhamt shocks me that you have been involved in this debate on academies for a few months and yet have no evidence or factual contribution to make? Surely as the local branch you are briefed and it is part of your role to explain national policies from your party to the locals? You have been vocal what you/who you are not supporting but no understanding of why? This all seems politically & personally bizarre to me...
LOOOOOOOOOOL @ Maggie fantasy, ok let me ask you another: "Do you get a discount to meet Cameron or have to pay the full £250,000?"
Have a nice week Little Willy Mwaaaaaaaaah x
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Willy, you are not merely a "Tory member" you are an officer... I admit, possibly by default as there was only three roles and three members, but nonetheless an officer still. Out of geniune curosity what is your role as the Tottenham Tories? What are your links with the National Tories? I would have assumed given the high profile media coverage of the academies, they would have called upon you to use your "local contacts" & promote policy.... No?
£6???? To meet Cllr Goldberg??? LOOOOOOL I'm remortgaging, thats an offer I cant let slip!! x
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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"If you are a member of a political party, please indicate for possible local authority governorships."
What does this mean ? Are some ( all ? ) governorships appointed, allocated or sponsored by the local authority ?
It reminds me of the situation in Belgium some years ago where the makeup of the journalists on the national broadcasters had to reflect the political landscape. Change of government on elections meant sacking journalists of the wrong political hue until the proportions of journalists' affiliations in the newsrooms corresponded to the new parliamentary distribution of seats ( or so I was told
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Governing bodies of community schools (i.e. LEA schools) contain different categories of members. Please click on this page on the DfE website.
As I posted previously, I have raised Will Hoyle's point as a formal enquiry and will post the answer.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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Good morning Alan!
Local schooling: Majority Group control/influence
Without waiting for an answer on the related issue, I wonder if I can put a couple of propositions to you about council control of local schools?
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(a) That in general, its right and proper that the governance of local schools should reflect the majority political complexion of a local authority, in the same way, for example, that the make-up of the Alexandra Palace Trust Board has always reflected Majority Group control?
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(b) That it follows – especially in Haringey Borough with its record of 40-year one-party control – that its good if Governors are politicaly unaligned; better if they're members of the Labour Party and best if they are both members of the Labour Party and Councillors?
Would you agree or disagree with these propositions?
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(a) Your proposition is based on factual inaccuracy.
(b) Your proposition is based on factual inaccuracy.
I realise I'm being a spoilsport, not joining-in the endless fun of speculation and conjecture. P.S. It's nothing to do with the Ally Pally either. Or Bill Gates.
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I think these propositions get to the heart of why the Majority Group believes it has legitimacy to exercise control over the Borough's schools and I'm not surprised that you don't want to address the question squarely (or at all).
I would have expected you to know that it is factually accurate that membership (and control) of our Charitable Trust is determined by the Majority Group, since we both know you've served on that Board.
Alan your normal distraction techniques aren't going to work here; I think your difficulty is that everyone reading this will see you've ducked the question!
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Clive, there isn't any question to duck. You have confused having local schools under Local Education Authorities (LEAs); with the composition and governance of individual school governing bodies. The former has been the system in England for over one hundred years. The latter has followed national legislation applying to England.
At different times I have been a governor on three schools. To the best of my recollection I never asked or discussed with any parent governor, staff governor, headteacher or coopted "community" governor if they were a member of a political party. I am currently a member of a governing body chaired by a minister of the local church. His political views (if any) are none of my business. He is entitled to - and gets - the support of me and the other governors in the interest of the school.
Clive you may not believe me. But as you are a LibDem member can I suggest you ask your party colleagues about the school governing bodies they serve on.
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Alan if I can't get you to address my propositions directly, can I ask you then, what does it mean when a school is taken into Special Measures?
From whom is it taken away?
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Clive, why won't you talk to your fellow LibDems? Lots of them are school governors and I'm sure they'll be happy to explain how it works.
Otherwise you'll have to look things up for yourself - in the library or with Google. I'll start you off: here's the Wikipedia link.
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Alan I addressed the question about Special Measures to you. From whom is a school taken away?
I'd have thought you'd be in a good position to answer the question directly, rather than deflecting it. After all, you are in the Majority Group, have been a School Governor and have often shown a willingness to contribute to this forum. I believe you could answer the question, if you wanted to, or weren't trying to avoid it.
Perhaps I'll simplify the second proposition. Do you believe or suspect that Labour Party members make the best School Governors?
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