The UK Government is selling off school land to rich developers across the country, leaving kids with nowhere to play. Education Secretary Michael Gove is under pressure, and we can stop the latest sale. Let's end the school fields sell-off once and for all -- sign the petition!
Dear friends across the UK,
Education Secretary Michael Gove is selling off our school sports fields to rich property developers at a staggering rate -- leaving a generation of British kids with nowhere to play. But he’s overreached with his latest sell-off attempt, and if we stand together now we can stop him.
Rather than investing in education, Gove is on the verge of approving the sale of school fields at Elliott School in London -- the latest in a string of 21 sales under his watch. This could turn almost half of the school’s grounds into luxury residential apartments. But under growing community pressure, Gove is hesitating, sending out conflicting messages about whether he approves the sell-off.
The local community is already mobilising against the sale, and a strong national outcry supporting this opposition can force Gove to back down and save these school fields.
Click here to sign the petition now and share with everyone you know!
Despite the Coalition's promise to halt the sale of school land and a pledge from Cameron to prioritise school sports after the Olympics, the students at Elliott School are only the latest victims in a series of government broken promises. This is a government that would rather sell precious outdoor space to fund vital school maintenance, instead of investing in education.
This time, it isn’t any ordinary school. Listed as a heritage building by the government, English Heritage has called the school one of the finest built by the London County Council. The government’s own heritage listing acknowledges that the unique landscape is a key part of this heritage -- the very landscape Gove now wants to sell off.
But with the focus on school sports during the Olympics, Gove has been coming under increasing pressure. Despite earlier messages that Gove would approve the sale, now David Cameron himself has personally insisted that no decision has yet been taken. A national outcry can ensure these school fields are saved, and a line is drawn in the sand against any future sales.
Avaaz members across the UK have come together to protect children from genital mutilation, stood up for media plurality and fuelled campaigns across the country. Now we must use our people power to save our future Olympians, one pitch at a time.
With hope and determination,
Loup Dargent
On behalf of Alex, Paul, Antonia, Rich, Emma, Ricken and the Avaaz Community Petitions team PS - This petition was started on Avaaz's Community Petitions site. Is your school under threat? Why not start a petition about it -- it's quick and easy >> click here <<
More information:
- School sports fields in danger as government relaxes rules (The Guardian)
- Keep The Flame Alive: Team sports blow for schools (The Telegraph)
- Government in disarray over school sport (The Guardian)
- School playing fields 'in danger' as ministers relax rules on eve of the Olympics (Daily Mail)
- Save Elliott School campaign