A formally correct resolution from Brent, which implied a link between faith schools and terrorism, could not be supported unamended for that reason. supporters of the Socialist Party, backed by the smaller left current the Campaign for a Fighting and Democratic Union, CDFU) deleted the reference to terrorism and stated ".. the Government's policy of increasing numbers of faith schools will hinder integration and foster religious and ethnic divisions .'
It concluded by saying
"Conference believes all schools should be well resourced, genuinely comprehensive community schools, belonging to a democraticallyelected Local Authority and operating the same agreed comprehensive admissions arrangements."
But neither this nor any of the succeeding amendments had a majority either until, almost by default, an Executive amendment, which virtually defended the status quo, was carried.
Most of the left are opposed to faith schools. The dividing issue was whether Muslims ought to be allowed to set up schools, as is their entitlement under the 1944 Education Act. The STA took no position on because it was too divided.
Some of the STA leadership supported by the SWP backed a Westminster resolution, which situated the demand for Muslim schools in the context of Islamophobia and the failure of schools to meet the needs of Muslim children.
The other pole of the argument was the total opposition to faith schools from the Socialist Party, the CDFU and others. In the end, the failure of the left to agree a position led to a defeat.
The final speaker opposing the Executive amendment, a Creationist, ended his contribution by saying he was not really opposed - and that tells you everything you need to know about the Executive position.
The "do nothing resolution" from the Executive was carried in spite of the fact that the biggest bloc of City Academies is run by the United Learning Trust - or, if you prefer: the Church of England Schools Society - a Blairite wedge being driven into comprehensive education.
De facto approval of faith schools was in marked contrast to the conference decisions of both the traditionally more conservative NASUWT and the ATL to oppose faith schools either by proposing a long term integration in the state comprehensive system or at least opposing the formation of new faith schools.
A bizarre sideshow to this was the SWP's efforts to get an emergency resolution on Climate Change debated. No one disagreed that this is an important topic - but nobody could understand either why it was such an urgent item, other than, as some cynics might think, a populist ploy to avoid discussion on more difficult issues, e.g. Faith Schools. both require the smashing those teaching unions who dare to oppose.
The Conterence mously backed resolutions opposing both. The trick however will be to convert nose into _ acon on ground. Lobbying MPs as proposed by the Executive will not be enough. It will take vigorous local campaigns to make inroads into this key part of Blair's "legacy".
The pensions debate was particularly instructive. Last year the threat of strike action by an alliance of public sector unions was enough to force the government to negotiate. The eventual deal means that all current teachers can retire at 60 but all new entrants will have to work to 65. Before the Pensions debate, delegates were handed a statement call ing off the Local Government strikes because a "framework" had been agreed for continuing negotiations and so calls tor supporting action were ruled out of our discussions.
So no criticism of this retreat was possible.
Equally annoying was the closure of the debate before the Birmingham Association oI lne relusal or tne natonal leadership to affiliate to the Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
The ludicrous reason used by the majority the Executive was that the StWC had as one of its aims "opposition to the war on terror" which implied the StWC was in favour of "terror".
Two high points of the conference was the passing virtually unanimously of motions
the Anti-Union opposing Laws and opposing US/UK policy in Iraq and Palestine. The second motion had an amendment passed which stated in part: "Conference expresses its grave concern for peace resulting....the statements of the United States Administration threatening Iran.
The speech by the new General Secretary, Steve Sinnott, at the end of conference had a lot of praise for Gordon Brown's initiatives for Education in Africa but had little commitment to act on the militant conference decisions.
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Socialist Resistance spoke to Kate Ford, TRUST Technology &
THE Pupils have organised sit down strikes and protests to defend their ued for over a year with three demons anons outsice une Learning Irust
The last demo was in April belore the schools