Midland parents take their schools fight to Westminster

Jul 20 2010 by Jonathan Walker, Birmingham Mail

ANGRY teachers, parents and children warned Education Secretary Michael Gove they urgently needed new school buildings, as they took part in a rally of Parliament.

They were in Westminster to take part in a rally protesting against the Government’s decision to axe school building projects.

Mr Gove has announced that 13 planned school rebuilds or refurbishments will be cancelled in Birmingham, and another seven, planned for academies, have been suspended pending further discussion.

And he sparked particular fury in Sandwell, in the Black Country, after announcing nine projects would be cancelled – the day after he wrongly said they had been spared the axe. The Government also suspended three academy schemes in the borough.

Protestors who took part in the rally, organised by teaching union NASUWT, included 13-year-old Kye Grundy, a pupil at Manor Foundation in Wednesbury, in the Black Country.