Lewisham: Prendergast schools academisation emails released

More than 170 pages of messages between the Department for Education (DfE) and the Leathersellers Federation of Schools have been unlocked by a parent using the Freedom of Information Act.

A staff member said: “At the very least, these emails are very embarrassing. At worst, they show how underhanded the entire process was.”

The Prendergast schools made national headlines in spring when staff walked out after leaders pursued academisation, despite respondents to a consultation overwhelmingly opposing it.

Emails have also revealed that Gillian Keegan MP, secretary of state for education, ordered the drafting of union-bashing letters, specifically intended to be leaked to the public, but then had her name taken off of them before they were published.

Legal Threats

Emails suggest the schools made empty legal threats over staff strikes.

In April, they sent legal letters to the National Education Union (NEU), saying an injunction would be sought over the “unlawful” strikes.

But the new emails show that in May, they told the DfE: “Leathersellers’ solicitor considers the strike action by the NEU to be legal.”

“It was an attempt to kick dust into our eyes and muddy the waters,” said NEU rep James Kerr.

“We were supremely confident throughout that we had a sound basis for industrial action.”

Internal emails from the Department for Education show that union-bashing letters were originally going to be sent out from secretary of state for education Gillian Keegan (left), but a last-minute change saw them sent from schools minister Nick Gibb (right) (Image: HM Govt)

Government letters

Emails show how the government wrote union-bashing letters to be leaked into the public domain.

On May 11, the DfE’s London regional director’s office emailed almost 20 colleagues, announcing a plan for two letters to be sent from Secretary of State Gillian Keegan, calling staff strikes “unacceptable”.

One was to be sent to the union and the other to Lewisham Council.

“The intention is for these letters to be put in the public domain,” the email said.

But on May 17, Ms Keegan asked for the letters to be sent in schools minister Nick Gibb’s name instead.

The DfE told the News Shopper: “The letter was sent by the schools minister due to his previous engagement with the school.”

Academy Orders

Emails show the school emailed the DfE in March 2022, seeking “informal” discussions about academising – a year before staff and parents were told of the plan.

The reason given was “to support future growth”.

When the spring 2023 announcement of the plan provoked staff strikes and community protests, the government moved its decision on the proposal forward by a month.

The majority of people who responded to a consultation over the proposed academisation were opposed to it. The suggestion sparked community protests and staff strikes (Image: Prendergast NEU Reps)

“Although we had planned a discussion at June’s AB (Advisory Board) meeting to discuss the AOs (academy orders) you are preparing, we are now minded to bring this conversation forward for discussion at May’s AB,” a civil servant wrote, specifically citing strikes.

“We don’t feel this will be rushing the process given it’s just a few weeks.”

They added that the DfE’s “hope is for you to get a decision as swiftly as possible”.

The News Shopper reported how in June, executive headteacher Paula Ledger arrived for union negotiations announced that the academy orders were already signed, so the academisation would be happening with “ministerial backing”.

NEU rep James Kerr called it “a scorched earth tactic” and “truly undemocratic”.

Teachers said they felt “disgusted” and “betrayed”.

The NEU said 99% of its teacher members were opposed to the academisation (Image: Lewisham NEU)

“In the pub”

Also among the disclosed correspondence was an email from a civil servant to Mrs Ledger, described by a school worker as “highly unprofessional”.

When Mrs Ledger emailed the DfE in late May to request a 5pm phone call, a staff member replied: “I may be in the pub by then but very happy to talk if you want to? I’ll try not to have too many shots beforehand.”

We asked the DfE whether it was common for civil servants to be in the pub drinking shots by 5pm, or to be conducting government business from the pub.

It said it did not comment on “the private correspondence of civil servants”.

When the Leathersellers Federation's executive headteacher Paula Ledger requested a 5pm phone call, a civil servant at the Dept for Education responded that he'd already be in the pub by then, doing shots - but could still take the call (Image: Newsquest)

Responses

“We were told that this was a local programme to address local needs and issues,” said Mr Kerr.

“What these emails reveal is that this conversion was very much facilitated and driven by Westminster.

“This was going on at the same time as the RAAC concrete scandal, which has put thousands of children into temporary buildings, but meanwhile a significant number of civil servants were working on this academisation programme.”

The Leathersellers Federation of Schools would only say: “The federation is keeping to its agreement with recognise trade unions to change its status in January 2024.”

The DfE said it had been “working closely” with the schools to “support them on their journey to becoming a multi-academy trust”, but added: “Whilst we know that the best academy trusts can transform outcomes for pupils, at no point have we sought to expedite the conversion of the school or the formation of a new multi-academy trust.”