Doug McAvoy NUT general secretary from 1989 to 2004, died on May 12, aged 80.
The Times obituary, published today, describes him as a ‘tough, canny negotiator who was afraid of nobody and gave no quarter.’
Initially supportive of New Labour, his ‘high hopes’ soured when it supported performance-related pay, naming and shaming of allegedly underperforming schools and the ‘commodification’ of education.
‘The school of the future will be franchised, branded and sponsored…it is a nightmare prospect. To New Labour it represents progress, modernisation and the future.’
What New Labour began, the Tories continued with zealous enthusiasm. What are multi-academy trusts but franchises with their own brands and corporate identities?
The future is here.
CORRECTION: The original article mixed up Fred Jarvis with Doug McAvoy. I need to lie down.
Add new comment