Hands Off West Gate

Hands Off West Gate Campaign to revoke the academy order for West Gate School in Leicester, England. It is unclear how academising the school would benefit it or its pupils.

Following an Ofsted inspection in 2018, West Gate School was given an academy order. Since then, the proposed sponsor has withdrawn, and an Ofsted inspection before the summer holidays graded the school as good. This means that the staff, leadership team, governing body and local authority have turned the school around in 3 years, in the middle of a global pandemic. It's an insult to the hard work of all those people that the DfE are still pressing ahead with a forced academisation and are proposing a new sponsor based in Yorkshire with a single failing secondary school. The Chair of Governors has written to the Regional Schools' Commissioner to request the revocation of the academy order. The NEU has written to the new Secretary of State for Education requesting the same. We will work with parents, staff, other unions, the head and the governing body to oppose the forced academisation of West Gate.

Our victory made ITV news too! Watch from around 1850:
09/12/2021

Our victory made ITV news too! Watch from around 1850:

The full 30 minute programme which is on air at 6pm on weekdays is generally available here for 24 hours. | ITV News Central

Coverage of our victory in the Leicester Mercury:
09/12/2021

Coverage of our victory in the Leicester Mercury:

The school was labelled 'inadequate' in 2018, but received a 'good' rating this year

09/12/2021

We are delighted to share the news with you that the academy order for West Gate School has been revoked! This is the best news we could have wished for, and a testament to the hard work of all the school staff, leadership team and governing body.

Coverage of the campaign and lobby on the BBC:
28/11/2021

Coverage of the campaign and lobby on the BBC:

The government says it is considering a request for the academy order to be revoked.

Fantastic turnout for the joint lobby of Leicester City Council last night. The DfE/RSC have committed to respond to the...
26/11/2021

Fantastic turnout for the joint lobby of Leicester City Council last night. The DfE/RSC have committed to respond to the request to revoke the academy order by the end of this month, so let's hope for a sensible decision that reflects the hard work done by all the West Gate School staff and the progress they've made and continue to make as a school.

We have a joint union petition calling for the revocation of the academy order. Please sign and share:
06/10/2021

We have a joint union petition calling for the revocation of the academy order. Please sign and share:

West Gate School is on the brink of being forced into academy status. The multi-academy trust that they have identified to takeover the school is based in Yorkshire, has no schools in Leicestershire and has no experience of managing a school delivering education to those with complex learning needs....

The DfE have confirmed that a 'Good' school can have its academy order revoked:
17/09/2021

The DfE have confirmed that a 'Good' school can have its academy order revoked:

Department updates statutory guidance with more detail on when school academisation can be cancelled

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