School occupation

Opponents of a proposed school academy have occupied the planned school site in Brent, north west London to prevent the project going ahead (see February's Labour Research).

The initial sponsor for the academy Andrew Rosenfeld was criticised by protesters for being a tax exile. Now he has pulled out there are concerns over the latest contender 'Absolute Return for Kids' because one of its trustees is one of the largest individual contributors to the Liberal Democrat party.

Opponents of the academy, led by Hank Roberts, executive member of the ATL and NUT teachers' unions, are calling for the plan to be dropped and for a new school to be built in the south of the borough where, they say, it is most needed.