The Nottinghamshire branch of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) has launched a campaign against the new Samworth Church Academy, saying it does not support the 'privatisation' of education and fears the impact it could have on teachers.

And union chiefs have branded the academy the 'Samworth Sausage Academy' because David Samworth — who is sponsoring the centre with the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham — used to run the Samworth Brothers Group, making Ginsters pasties and pork pies.

Ivan Wels, joint division secretary of Nottinghamshire NUT, told Chad: "It is a form of privatisation and the sponsor gets complete control of the school. They have handed it to someone who doesn't have much to do with education.

"Things are being taken out of the hands of professionals and handed over to private enterprise.

"Other people see money being pumped in but they don't see the negative side. Money could be pumped in without it becoming an academy."

He is also concerned about staff keeping their terms and conditions of employment and whether the union would be recognised for negotiations.

The NUT has detailed the objections on its website and says staff have had little consultation about how the academy will be run.

It says: "A quick peek at Samworth's CV and it soon becomes clear that this guy should stick to making sausages, pork pies and pasties."

'Problems'

The union has also sent a letter listing its concerns to Mansfield MP Alan Meale — including claims that another academy once sponsored by Mr Samworth in Leicester, which included a church in its grounds, held a funeral while pupils were at school.

But Mr Meale says he backed the academy because the alternative could have meant closing the school altogether.

He said: "From the early days when Sherwood Hall School got into terrible problems I was contacted by the education authority, councillors, parents, governors and teaching staff and worked for more than two years with the then headmaster helping him and his staff pull the school around.

"I have no reason to change my stance. I have had one letter of objection from a teacher and one from the NUT and all the other contact I have had has supported it."

And principal designate Michael Griffiths told Chad the union had not responded to any of the consultations held into opening the new academy — but the school has offered to meet the union to discuss its concerns.

He said the academy wanted to be an 'exemplary employer' and had already held five consultations with staff.

Mr Griffiths said: "David Samworth is not involved in the governing body and is not involved in the management of the school.