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BRIGHTON teachers in rebellion against management plans to turn Hove Park school into an academy will strike today with support from parents.
Members of the National Union of Teachers will be joined by parents and pupils on the picket line at the school gates in a show of solidarity.
Head teacher Derek Trimmer tried to turn parents against teachers yesterday by sending an email declaring that he had decided to shut the school for the day “with regret.”
He said picket lines formed from 7am would put scabs in a “difficult personal position.
“I cannot, on this occasion, open the school to students in the knowledge that we can provide a secure, safe environment for all of our students on this day,” he added.
Parents responded by deluging Mr Trimmer with emails explaining that they support the strike and plan to join teachers at the school this morning.
Parents, pupils and teachers united to form the Hands Off Hove Park School campaign when Mr Trimmer first raised the plans to turn it into an academy.
Campaign spokeswoman Sharon Duggal said: “Parents and carers share the teachers’ concerns that the case for the academy has not been made in terms of benefits to pupils.
“We are already seeing very good teachers leaving the school as they don’t want to work in an academy.”
The teachers’ official strike follows a lunchtime walkout staged by more than 130 pupils in April.
A leaflet issued by the school claimed there is a “moral imperative” to privatise the school, insisting that it would be better funded.