Coalition to stage ‘save our schools’ lobby

Education unions the ASCL, NAHT and NEU, along with public services union UNISON and the National Governance Association (NGA) have announced plans for a mass lobby of Parliament on 20 June.

The aim of the event is to publicise the “unprecedented crisis facing the sector as a result of the underfunding of education, staff shortages caused by the government’s devaluing of the workforce, and an accountability system of performance tables and Ofsted inspections which is punitive and counterproductive”.

Geoff Barton, ASCL general secretary, explained: “This lobby is about taking our message directly to Westminster that our schools and colleges simply cannot go on like this. They are desperately short of the key resources that they need to function effectively – money and staff. This is not an accident but the result of political choices made by the government.”