New (open access) piece: “Topslicing”: the great under-reported controversy of the academies policy.
Published here:
https://t.co/0jgxO9Vmnj here:
https://t.co/j6zLqKHA6O
Seven unions - NEU, NASUWT, UNISON, Unite, GMB, Assocition of Education Psychologists and Community - issue statement warning that gov plans for every school to join an academy trust "will reinforce and exacerbate fragmentation of schools and divert money away from pupils."
@warwickmansell Have experienced an Ofsted inspection in 2025 confirming 'outstanding' rating whilst parents filling out surveys saying "many issues & getting worse". None seem to have been taken into account. Leaves questions of the value of inspection & rating overall.
8/9 @LizaBegum_ has been pushing for answers and accountability from the Trust here:
https://t.co/pc79mWH9oS
Parents want @pimlicoprimary to succeed.
But confidence cannot be rebuilt through denial, silence or process.
It starts with listening.
6/9 Parents are not asking for special treatment.
We are asking to be heard and our children to be loved & treasured.
We want the Trust to engage with the substance of what families are saying, not keep sending us back into processes that many parents already feel have failed.
5/9 @futureacademies operates state-funded schools.
Its #CEO Lawrence Foley was reportedly paid £175k to £180k in 2023-24, according to Education Uncovered.
With public funding should come public accountability.
https://t.co/K7Xvjq07iC
4/9 I’m a parent at this school.
I don’t want to be writing posts like this.
I want my children to go to school feeling safe, supported and excited to learn AGAIN.
That should not be controversial or too much to ask.
3/9 @LizaBegum_ has now set out what parents are asking for:
+A genuinely independent review
+Transparency on data
+Proper SEND support
+Review of punitive sanctions
+Restored parent communication
+Parent voice in governance
+A child-centred school culture
2/9 This is not 1 parent, 1 child, or 1 complaint.
Parents have raised repeated issues around:
- SEND support
- sanctions and suspensions
- safeguarding
- parent bans
- restricted communication
- low academic standards
- school culture
#SEND#Safeguarding#Westminster
1/9 Future Academies Trust replied to Cllr Begum about concerns at Pimlico Primary.
It points parents to the formal complaints process & says the Trust doesn't recognise the characterisation of the school in her letter.
But families have been raising these issues for months.
A 5 year-old autistic child suspended 30 times in 5 months at a school in #Westminster.
Parents say:
- #SEND kids punished more.
- Racism not handled.
- Speaking up gets you shut out.
Why primary school prioritises control over care? @warwickmansell
https://t.co/bdUiJoCweJ
@LizaBegum_ An article by @warwickmansell of Education Uncovered was just published highlighting the problems raised by the parents at Pimlico Primary with support by @LizaBegum_ m. Heartbreaking experiences reported for both the children and their families https://t.co/bdUiJoCweJ