Teachers strike to block academy

Teachers will be striking today at a school being forced to become an academy.

Support for the one-day strike at Downhills Primary School in Haringey, north London, is expected to be unanimous among teaching staff – and supported by a majority of parents.

The school is one of 200 on a list drawn up by Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, of those that have failed to reach maths and English standards for 11-year-olds five years running. Teachers and parents argue it is improving.