The school had hit the national news headlines last year because of the £142,500 salary of the headmaster, Mark Elms. The first application to become an academy was met by a vibrant local campaign led by parents of children at the school.

That application was shelved when the parents exposed misleading financial figures in the initial application, and made a legal challenge. But, despite the opposition of local MP Joan Ruddock, Lewisham Council, Lewisham NUT and a large number of parents, the Governors of the school have decided to proceed with a second application.

This application, like the first, will be met by a vigorous campaign.

Author:Duncan Morrison

Solidarity will carry an interview with Leila Galloway from the “Deptford says no to Tidemill Academy campaign” in a future issue.