Simon O’Hara on the picket line with colleague.
Salma Yaqoob’s response to developments at Small Heath School
I am delighted to hear that plans to force Small Heath School to become an academy may be shelved following a vibrant campaign by staff and parents. The school had been rated Outstanding by Ofsted until the recent politicised atmosphere post ‘Trojan Horse’. Staff at Small Heath School, including many confident Muslim women teachers and parents, have been anything but#traditionallysubmissive in winning their fight against the creeping privatisation of education. They know that Small Heath is best served by schools co-operating as part of the Local Authority family of schools. Indeed Ofsted’s own research confirms that Academies do not improve results as previously claimed. Now the Local Authority needs to step in to get the suspension of dedicated teacher and NUT Rep Simon O’Hara lifted. It is obvious to parents and the community that he has been victimised simply for standing up for the pupils and parents of Small Heath School. We will continue to campaign until he is back in the classroom doing the job he loves – teaching our children.
