Ed Balls’ announcement that 638 schools, 20% of England's secondary schools, should ‘improve or close’ is very damaging. It implies that these schools are failing. Yet Ofsted reports show many of the schools to be improving. Some have been described as outstanding. In most cases GCSE results are improving.

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Perhaps most damningly this announcement appears to have no concern for the impact on the pupils, parents, teachers, governors, head teachers and support staff.

We are particularly disturbed at the arbitrary nature of the success criteria. Are schools with 29% A* to C failing more than those with 31%? We are also concerned at the proposed remedies. Closing schools and re-opening them as academies or trust schools is hailed as the solution. Yet 26 academies are included in his list of failing schools. What is he going to do with them?

This announcement was not based on careful consideration of the evidence of what works. Had it been, Ed Balls’ would have seen that other school improvement programmes – such as Excellence in Cities- have already proved to be successful. Naming and shaming schools does not improve them.

Regrettably, this ‘National Challenge’ policy seems to be more to do with knee-jerk political calculations. We, therefore, call on the government to withdraw the description of the 638 schools as failing, and to remove the threat to close or convert them into academies or trusts.

Initial Signatories

Ken Purchase MP

Alasdair Smith National Secretary, Anti Academies Alliance

Fiona Millar Education Journalist

Francis Beckett Education Journalist

Melian Mansfield, chair Campaign for State Education (CASE)

Martin Dore, General Secretary, Socialist Educational Association

Christine Blower, NUT General Secretary

Sally Hunt, UCU General Secretary

Additional Signatories

MPs

Mike Hancock MP

David Taylor MP

Lynne Jones MP

Jeremy Corbyn MP

Ian Gibson MP

Martin Caton MP

George Galloway MP

Kelvin Hopkins MP

Bob Russell MP

John McDonnell MP

Councillors

Tony Belton, Leader of Wandsworth Council Labour Group

Matthew Brown, Deputy Leader of Preston City Council Labour Group

Mike Stephenson, Leader of Independent group of councillors, Barrow Borough Council

Ben Duncan, Brighton & Hove City Council

Romayne Phoenix, Lewisham Council

Linda White, Burnley Borough Council

Michael Lavalette, Preston City Council

Ray Holmes, Bolsover District Council

Peter Kent-Baguley, Stoke-on-Trent City Council

Phillip Solloway, Barrow Borough Council

Dominic McCavish, Barrow Borough Council

Fiona Wilson, Blyth Valley Council

Dave Nellist, Coventry city Council

Rupert Read, Norwich city council

Rachel Fryer, Brighton & Hove City Council

Robert Boswell, Preston city Council

Pete Lowe, Dudley Borough Council

Academics

Professor Meg Maguire, Kings College London

Professor Ken Jones, Keele University

Professor Patrick Ainley, University of Greenwich

Dr Terry Wrigley, University of Edinburgh

Professor John Quicke, University of Sheffield

Julie Hall, Head of Learning and Teaching Enhancement Unit, Roehampton University

Dr Richard Hatcher, Birmingham City University

Professor Dennis Leech, University of Warwick

Dr Lesley McIntosh, The Robert Gordon University

Professor Judith Glynn, London school of hygiene & tropical medicine

Pura Ariza, Senior lecturer in Education, Manchester Metropolitan University

Jon Berry, Senior Lecturer in Education, University of Hertfordshire

Professor Alex Callinicos, Kings College London

Russell Manning, Lecturer in History in Education, Birmingham University

Richard Pring, formerly professor of Educational Studies, University of Oxford

Professor Malcolm Povey, University of Leeds

Professor Clyde Chitty, Goldsmiths College

Pete Hick, senior lecturer, Institute of Education, Manchester Metropolitan University

Pura Ariza, senior lecturer and 45 other senior lecturers and lecturers, Institute of Education, Manchester Metropolitan University

Simon Boxley, Education Studies Department, University of Winchester

Headteachers

Susan Byrne, Sunnydale Community College

Lynne Fox, Cheshire Oaks high School

D J Watchorn, Abraham Moss High School

Gillian Smith, Feltham Community College

Trade Unionists (in personal capacity)

Matt Wrack FBU General Secretary

Bill Greenshields, National President, NUT

Mark Serwotka, PCS General Secretary

Sally Kincaid, Divisional secretary Wakefield and District NUT

Philip Roberts, NUT school rep, Withins School

Stephen Barlow, NUT

Carvell Lonsdale, ATL joint branch sec, Lancashire

Dave Clinch, Devon NUT secretary

Martin Lynch, Dudley NUT joint secretary

Jason C Sharp, ATL assistant branch secretary, Oldham

Roy Wilkes, NUT rep, Prestwich Arts College

Hank Roberts, Brent ATL and NUT secretary

Andy Stone, East London NUT young teachers officer

Andrew Berry, Deputy Branch Secretary Islington UNISON

Michael Davern, Joint Secretary Southwark NUT

Mark Campbell, UCU NEC & London region UCU HE secretary

Mike Cushman, UCU LSE

James Eaden, UCU NEC

Christine Carruthers, President Tynedale NUT, vice president Northumberland NUT, governor

Val Cane, Brighton and Hove NUT committee

Vin Wynne, Secretary Northumberland NUT

Shirley Franklin, Vice Chair London region UCU, school governor

Nina Franklin, Bristol NUT divisional secretary & NUT NEC

Jim Guild, Branch secretary Sussex University UCU & UCU NEC

David Wills, Secretary, Windsor & Maidenhead NUT

Anthony Dooley, Membership secretary/Disability officer, Ipswich NUT

Dave Brinson, NUT NEC and prospective Labour candidate for Eastbourne

Susan McDowell, Lambeth College UCU branch secretary

Kieran Parson, secretary Kensington & Chelsea NUT

Ron Mendell, Northampton Trade Union Council

Paul C Dyer, Secretary barnstaple & district Trades Union Council

Geraldine Murray, Norwich & District Trades Union Council

Barry Conway, Bolton Divisional Secretary, NUT

Yvonne Jedrzdeskli, Harper Green UNISON

Karl Widdows, Harper Green NUT

John Walder, Secretary Kent Division NUT

Ted Truscoe, Surrey Division NUT assistant secretary

Helen Currie, Wokingham NUT equal opportunities officer

Nick Grant, NUT NEC

Dave Cole, General Secretary, Wolverhampton NUT, President Wolverhampton TUC

Andrew Freemantle, PCS branch organiser, Ministry of Justice, London

Mario Nain, UCU Black rep, Lambeth College

Dave Harvey, NUT NEC

Ian Murray, assistant secretary Sandwell NUT

John Worton, treasurer Sandwell NUT

Pauline Riley, assistant secretary Sandwell NUT

Jenny Ermoyenous, equal opportunities Sandwell NUT

Paul Brook, UCU joint convenor, Manchester Metropolitan University business school

Tony Buttifint, Treasurer, Islington Association NUT

Murray Sackwild, general secretary, Harlow & Epping Association NUT

Anne Swift, NUT north yorkshire

Graham Topley, Branch Chair Lambeth College UCU

Nigel Reigate, Norwich & District Trades Union Council, UNISON rep

Mary Reape, Doncaster NUT equalities officer

Alison Wagner, NUT

Sue Kortlandt & Dave Malbon, secretaries Havering NUT

Ralph Gayton, Angel Road Schools Federation, Norwich

Paul Hackett, Brampton Wyton PCS

Paul Royle, NUT Isle of Wight

Claire Wormald, Branch secretary UNISON southend

Caron McKenna, Equalities officer, UNITE, Coventry University

Jim Fagan, publicity officer, UNISON Tower Hamlets heathcare

Dr Matt Perry, UCU convenor Newcastle University

Raymond Morrell, UNITE convenor

Ian Allinson, UNITE EC member

Angela Shann, UCU Yorkshire & Humberside regional chair

Andy Reid, PCS NEC

Nick Ruff, Branch Chair, Kirklees UNISON

Jon Gamble, secretary Watford TUC

Tony Phillips, LFBDA UNISON secretary

Janet Maiden, SGE greater London UNISON, branch chair UCLH UNISON

Unjum Mirza, RMT Stratford no1 branch

Debs Gwynn, NUT Salford President

Dennis Charman, Secretary hammersmith & fulham teachers association

Apo Cagirici, Southwark UNISON branch committee member

Dave Kirby, NUT NE Derbyshire

Doug Morgan, NUT young teachers advisory committee

Sarah Tomlinson, Lambeth NUT joint secretary

Marion O’Malley, ELTA NUT

Alex Snowden, Northumberland NUT

Wendy Roper, Sandwell UNISON

Dave Davies, Hackney NUT committee member

Deni Kittay, Swansea UNISON

David Hughes, UNISON local service group executive member & President Birmingham TUC

Rob Stainsby, NUT rep Ackland Burghley school, Camden

Jan Nielsen, Wandsworth NUT school rep

Salman Mirza, chair Birmingham UNISON voluntary sector

Davis Buckley, Birmingham UNISON steward

David Halls, Birmingham UNISON steward

Des Barrow, hackney NUT school rep

Ursula Hawthorne, NUT Waltham Forest

Aysha Ali, UNISON

T Sullivan, Islington NUT

D White, Bradford NUT school rep

Claire Lyall, UNISON rep

Sabia Rasoal, UNISON

Glenn Feeney, Doncaster NUT school rep

Annette Lynch, Hackney NUT

Ken Muller, Islington NUT assistant secretary

Pat Jones, UNISON steward

Sara Creagh, UNISON

Lorraine Nalty, UNISON steward

Sheila McGregor, NUT rep ELTA

Tommy Izzett NUT rep ELTA

Ben Morris, Sheffield NUT branch executive

Jim Goodall, UNISON steward

Sittu Ahmed, UNISON steward

Hilary Chuter, UNSION

Fran Postlethwaite, Barnsley NUT assistant secretary

Bessma Khayat, NUT rep Oldbury college of sports

Ryan Maxwell, Birmingham NUT

N Smith, UNISON rep

Anunah Nair, UNISON

Pat Gallagher, Manchester UNISON

J Redmond, UNISON

Laura Storey, South Gloucestershire NUT equal opportunities rep

Rachel Kendall, South Gloucestershire NUT President

Paul Vernell, South Gloucestershire NUT membership secretary

Karen Tyre, UNISON rep

C Winter, UNISON rep

Diana Singler, UNISON health joint branch secretary

Laurence Wong, ELTA NUT Health & Safety

Jeremy Taylor, Brent NUT committee member

Lee Sprake, UNISON

Andy Lawson, UNISON

Michael Dance, Wanstead High School NUT rep

Tony Dowling, Gateshead NUT membership secretary

Lynda Caruthers, Durham NUT

Louise Rathbone, Sandwell UNISON

Bea Kay, GMB

P Page, UNISON shop steward

Kate Roberts, UNISON

Chris Blakey, Oxfordshire NUT President

Kin Thomas, Haringey NUT

Andy Stone, ELTA young teachers officer

Katie Wheatley, UNISON

Alistair Wingate, Birmingham UNISON

David Kemp, UNISON steward

Keith Paterson, UNISON

Sam Kirk, Bradford NUT

George Arthur, Barnsley NUT school rep

Jim Board, Doncaster UNISON branch secretary

L Hunter, Newcastle NUT

Phil Turner, chair South Yorkshire NUJ

A Willetts, UNISON

Andy Brammer UNISON steward

Rachel Hemingway, UNISON west Yorkshire police branch, joint branch secretary

David Brown, UNISON west Yorkshire police branch, joint branch secretary

Mandy Squire, Waltham Forest NUT equal opportunities officer

Bridget Parsons, Birmingham NUT

B Keenan, Manchester NUT school rep

Ally Dworniak, Redbridge NUT school rep

Jacy Roberts, UNISON steward

Beccy Palmer, UNISON steward

Jane Loftus, CWU vice president

Clare Soloman, SOAS students union President

Bryan Beckingham, Secretary Oldham NUT

Martin Gleeson, Secretary Oldham Trades Union Council

Martin Hird, senior organiser, GMB

Richard Edwards, Regional Vice Chair, PCS Eastern Region

Dave Jones, Walsall NASUWT secretary

John Duffy, NUT rep, Brays grove Community College, Harlow

Dorothy Heath, Secretary Walsall TUC

Vera Kelsey, Branch Secretary, Wolverhampton CWU

Steve Bostock, POA NEC

Jason Hill, Musicians Union, EC member

Geoff Gay, President Leicester NUT

Dave Wilkinson, Derby NASUWT branch secretary, for Derby NASUWT branch

Martin Eversfield, Rugby TUC chair

Marion Halfpenny, Wolverhampton NU

Elizabeth Donnelly, UNITE NEC member

Mary Simpson, Coventry TUC

Gilly Anglin Jarrett, UNISON exec member

B Cook, Secretary Wolverhampton NASUWT

Nick Kelleher, Secretary Wolverhampton Bilston & District UNISON

Adrian Turner, Branch Secretary Wolverhampton UNISON

B Walters, ATL

Sam Beckler, ATL branch secretary

David Cole, Wolverhampton NUT secretary

Chris Bruton, Dudley NASUWT secretary

Regan Kilpin, Hammersmith & Fulham UNISON learning mentor

Lindsey McDowell, UNISON Greenwich

Sheena Wheatley, Notts NUT

Andrew Ryan, Oldham NUT

Jo Cardwell, chair Waltham Forest LG UNISON

Ade Walter, Greenwich UNISON publicity officer

Peter Marsden, UNISON branch officer, Blackpool

Alison Wayman, UNISON rep, Littlemoor Primary School, Oldham

Marion Hersh, UCU NEC

Alan Dent, Secretary South Ribble NUT

Neil Hancox, Secretary, West Lancashire Association NUT

Nick James, UCU NEC & President Leicester UCU

Dave Jones, Brighton UNISON nursery rep

Sue Bowes, Brighton UNISON branch officer

Alex Platt, UNISON

Mike Stirland, vice president Leeds NUT

Mark Campbell, London Region HE secretary UCU

Caroline Johnson, Birmingham UNISON assistant branch secretary

John Westmoreland, York College UCU branch chair

Chris Hutchins, Birmingham Association NASUWT executive member

Mac Andrassy, NUT rep Counthill school, Oldham

Margaret Hilton, UNISON steward

Ryan Maxwell, Birmingham NUT

Louise Harrison, Doncaster UNISON

Joyce Sheppard, Doncaster UNISON

Keith McKenna, UCU

Ellie Paskell, EQUITY

Kim Gibbins, Birmingham NUT

Mark Renwick, UNISON

Alan Bradley, NUT

Roger Simmonds, EMWLC UNISON rep

Steve Johnston, NUT rep Leeds

lan Porter, UNISON steward

Judith Power, UNISON member

Riosin Fulton, Luton UNISON

Sarah Allen, Luton UNISON

Caroline Coleman, NUT rep Newham

Nick James, UCU NEC chesterfield

Penny Fosket, NUT

Dennis White, school rep Bradford

Kevin Orr, UCU rep Manchester

Mike Haynes, UCU rep Wolverhampton

L Miles, Wakefield UCU

Roger King, Secretary Birmingham NUT

David Kaplan, Brent NUT

Mike Bosman, chair PCS, West London branch, Home Office group

Pav Alam, Education and Learning officer, PCS

Dr Sue Blackwell, UCU NEC

Carole Oates, NUT Bexley

Ken Cridland, Lancashire NUT Secretary

Maggie Sherry, Bargaining Unit Office Manager, PCS LSE regional office

Jeremy Taylor, Joint NUT school rep, Preston Manor High School

Margaret George, UCU NEC

Geoff Brown, manchester TUC secretary

Derek Wise, UNITE-AMICUS branch secretary

David Amos, Manchester TUC delegate

Sharon Green, PCS branch chair

Joe Bailey, UNITE T&G

Geremy Phillips, EQUITY chairman North West

David Wilson, GMB shop steward

Lynne Hodge, UNITE shop steward

Mark Krantz, NUT school rep

Jimmy Thornton, UNITE branch secretary

Geno Menezes, PCS BEC member

Joe Bailey, UNITE delegate to Manchester Trades Union Council

Bartley Wilcock, UNISON retired

David Beale, Branch communications officer, UCU

Barrie Eckford, UNITE T&G secretary

John Irwin, CWU assistant secretary

Kate Richardson, UNITE assistant secretary

Bob Askew, vice chair Manchester Metropolitan University UCU

Jim Warner, joint secretary Dudley NUT

John Hemingway, Birmingham NASUWT General Secretary

Denis Lenihan, GMB member and PCS employee

Bolton Joint Public Services Union Committee

Hayward School Joint Unions committee

Withins School Joint Unions committee

Andy Peters, NUT rep Hayward school, Bolton

Phil Roberts, NUT rep Withins school, Bolton

22 members of Leeds NUT

Jill Gibbons, Leeds UNISON

Steve Thompson, Leeds NASUWT

Tom Denholm, assistant secretary, Newcastle NUT

Eileen Parnwell, retired NUT member Barnet

Lizz Tinder, Havant NUT

School Governors

Imogen Pennell, Chair of Governors, Highgate Wood School, Haringey

Margaret Tulloch, London Borough of Merton

Jim Field, Parent governor, Thorncliffe School, Barrow in Furness

Dorothea Hackman, Camden School Governor

Stella Cawood, Wellhouse School, Kirklees

Ian Bird, Victoria Infants School, Barrow in Furness

Linda Newman, Woodingdean primary school, Brighton, and Past President UCU

Julie Williams, Wakefield

Lucinda Wakefield, Sharrow school, Sheffield

Lesley Fitzsimmons, Parent governor Luton

Trevor Goodfield, Newfield School, Sheffield, vice chair of governors

Education campaigners

Dr Mary Wallis-Jones, CASE NEC

Alyson Moore, Chair Pimlico School Association

Nina Hill, Chair, Our Schools Are Not For Sale, Barrow

Melissa Benn

Sheila Dore, vice chair Labour Party Socialist Education Association

Alan Gibbons, childrens author

John Clossick, Institute for Learning national council (personal capacity)

Andrew Dickie, member of SEA

Others

Andy Walker, Ilford South CLP

Rosalind Levy, member of Streatham Labour Party

Connor Birch, chair Marches Secularists

Ken Ilett

Eileen Parnwell, retired teacher

Dr Jeffrey Boss, Stroud CLP

Jane Winter, parent

David Pollock, President, European Humanist Federation

Pete McAskie, Green Party Executive

Mrs J K Bamber, Head of Year, Counthill School, Oldham

Hilary Kurt, Derwentside College lecturer

Ian Chard, PCS

Carol Archer, Early years & sure start advisory teacher

Carolyn Gelenter, Westminster Specialist Advisory Team

Emma Donaldson, English & Media teacher, Oaklands School

Michael Poutney, ex school governor, London

Gale Dawson, UOB project manager

Elysa Alton, transitions teacher, Cleeve Park School

Alison Limerick, head of Media, Waingels College

Mike Ellison, teacher Copland School, Wembley

Arthur Frederick Moore, southern secretary Marches Secularists

Juliet Kay, Lambeth College

Sarah Duckworth, Knottingley High School

Jim Westwood, Lambeth College

Steve Blum, ex teacher

Sheila Sirotkin

Debbie Rolls, Bradford college

Brian Madican

Jane Eades, former teacher, Westminster

Rebecca M Hodel-Jones, teacher, Carleton community high school

Mark Harbon, teacher, Brent

Leanne Turner, schools and community Co-ordinator, Camden Arts centre

Anna Lucas, Artist Educator

Debra Murphy, Maria Fidelis Convent School, head of faculty

Sarah Tall, teacher

James Bohm, artist

Jane Walton, teacher, Newton Hill J&I school, Wakefield

Stuart Paulley, Oldham

Dr Tony Eaude, Independent Research Consultant, Oxford

Megan Hubbard, teacher, Brent

Rory Macqueen, member of Hackney North & Stoke Newington Labour Party

Jennifer Akhurst, head of sixth form, Queens Park community school

Jayne Downs, Brent

Jane McNamara, EAL teacher Brent

Ruth Brooks, St Lukes Sixth Form College, Bexley

Melissa Marsh, teacher in charge of AS LangLit, City and Islington sixth form college

Deborah Manson, City & Islington college

Jim Lowe, former teacher

Marina Platt, Oldham

Kate Wood, year coordinator, Brent

Alero King, teacher, Brent

Heather Ruft, EAL teacher, Breeze Hill School

Morag Murphy, teacher, Copleston high school, Ipswich

Norma McArthur, London SW11, dentist

Sandy Bruce, Elthorne Park H.S. Teacher
Paul Aljabar, Imperial College London, Researcher
Z Lemma, Queens Park Community School, Teacher
Jez Hemans, Software Developer, Parent
R Gmiterek, London, Retired Teacher
A Gmiterek, London, Retired Teacher

29 City & Islington college teachers, Ceinwen Hilton, Jane Harty, Tony Bell, Mike Douglas, Barry Brinklow, Neville Gomes, Magdelena Pickton, Pani Matsangor, Suzanne Twomey, Vicki Simmons, Farida Dhada, Thomas McGold, Denise Johnson, Robin Wallace, Fran Johnstone, Louise Lee, Ann Fairle, John Siblon, Bernard Bulaitis, Shaun Doherty, Annie Griffiths, Andrew Marsh, Dionne Sparks, Pedro Montiel, Simona Candiolo, Paramjit Kalsi, Andrew Bailes, Sheila Wilson, Mark Madine

Lily Sait, school student

Timothy Baldwin

Daniel Rooney, post graduate student

Laura Bruneau

Fergus Alexander, tutor at Manchester School of Architecture

Chris Fitzpatrick, culcheth high school

Mark Walshe, teacher

G Sait

S Dodsworth, retired

Andrea Suleyman, the Breastfeeding Network

Stephen Mynott, music teacher, lowestoft

Lucy Cox, Chalkhill primary school ICT co-ordinator

Teresa Brennan, camden LBC

Michael Danby

Edward Egan, retired teacher

Stuart Curlett

Alice Boomla, Institute of Education student union

Laura Penketh, lecturer University of Manchester

Patricia Bedford, former teacher, Westminster

Clare Morrison, senior teacher Abbey Junior School Sandwell

Sybil Cock

Helene Fawcett, retired school librarian, London

Amanda Martin, secretary, Portsmouth

Theo Morgan, ex NWCS student

HM Powell, WD Powell, Waterhead

Declan Mecalfe

Adam Wright,Essex university

Gerry Jones, Berwick CAB, UNITE member

Tom Hegarty, University of Leeds

Joe Connolly, Sheffield

Sarah Young, Sussex uni

Rachel McConnell, Southampton Uni

Emily Cole, Sussex Uni

Maureen Kapris, NPCS

Seamus Guyver, NPCS

Catriona Lischka

Desper J Mikkelsen, J.P.E Hartmann Valby

Fran Box, Edinburgh Uni

Sam Barnes, Leicester

Rachel Aldred, lecturer

Alex Rossiter, Kings College London

Tara Judah, Kings College London

Marcus Barnett, Runshaw College Preston

Marian Warner, teacher

Daniel Vockins, journalist

Howard Wilson, NUM retired

Debbie Pengelis, teacher

Martin Grunhill, student

Tom Wills, Sussex Uni

Matt Crowder, postgraduate

Theoni Reid, Great Ormond St Hospital

Richard Braude, South East London

Hannah fair, North West London

Emil Marmol, LSE graduate admin

David Harold, teacher

Karen Dun, lecturer Sheffield Hallam Uni

Glyn Oliver, Swaythling Primary School teacher

James Messenger, East London

Claire Paterson, Strathclyde uni

Andy Makin, Burnley

Tahira Ramzan, teacher Watford

Una Soohun, teacher London

Joan Coulson, retired

Ashna Sarkar, FE student London

Christine Bird, Teacher

Ira Mikkonen, student

Julia Shergold, parent Sheffield

Charlotte Brown, student Nottingham

Kath Akers, student London

Michaela Christofi, student London

Francesca Gunby, student London

A Platt, student Leeds

Anne James, English Language teacher, chesterfield

Michael Hepworth, FE lecturer Leeds

Nicola Cheney, parent Derby

James Hall, teacher Salisbury

Sarah Barber, Sussex uni

Ashley Singleton, student Manchester

Amanda Jacobs, lecturer

Dan Perry, student SOAS

Mark Collyer, student Southampton

Peter Nicholls, Blackheath Bluecoat school teacher

Paul Grist, teacher Leeds

L Grist, teacher Leeds

Pre School Education Coventry – Cath Amphlett, Heather Betts, Cathy Dowsett, Ann Tucker, Magge Gosai, Rae Bugby, Pam McKiernan, Judith Nichols, Nicola Kempson, Cathy Gill, Keri Hunter, Marilyn Munce

Rob Wall, Bedford & Kempston CLP

Maria Cook, secretary, William Parker sports college

Colleen Gleeson, teacher, Islington

Barbara White

Joanna Lewis-Ryan, parent

Tracey Smith, Science Teacher, Holly Lodge High School College of Science

Catherine Boothman, Parent and Teacher

Jo Keogh, year 7 parent, Haling Manor High School, Croydon

David Docherty, teacher

Adele Taylor plus 49 other teachers, LSA's and site staff at Ladybridge High School, Bolton

Vanessa Hayles, teacher and parent

Neil Williams, chair Milton Keynes Campaign for State Education

Lin Clark, retired assistant head, Somerset

Peter Starling, retired teacher, London

George Foster, retired head of humanities, London

Chris Lacki, Enfield

Neil Whalen, Maths Teacher, London

Mary Holroyd, Kenwood Ladies Association

Campbell Fry, Paddington Academy, Director of Music

Chris Bardsley, Kidbrooke School, Head of Humanities

Stephen Murphy and 14 other teachers at Stratton Upper School, Bedfordshire

Karen J Donnelly, course coordinator, University of Leeds

Mike Robson, subject leader, Meadowhead school

66 teaching and support staff at Harper Green School, Bolton, one of the 638 schools

lydia Boxley, retired nursery and adult education teacher

Chris Boxley, retired secondary teacher

Dagmar Jeschin, parent and school campaigner, Southwark

Viv Lockwood, Sheffield Labour Party

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by Monday 28th July 

The letter in petition format is at http://www.antiacademies.org.uk/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=41&func=fileinfo&id=90