Parents fighting to reinstate a teacher at their children’s school have organised a film show as part of their campaign.
YorkMix reported earlier this month that many Millthorpe School parents were unhappy that English teacher Joe Brothers has been suspended.
A petition was launched by an unnamed parent who said the teacher was disciplined for arguing against school budget cuts which have “wreaked havoc” at the school.
Now the parents have teamed up with the National Education Union to organise a filmshow aimed at sparking a discussion about the state of education in the city.
The event, organised in support of Mr Brothers, will feature a screening of The Great Schools Robbery, a documentary about the impact of school academies on children, families and communities.
Chester Yang, the director of the film, will be present to host a Q&A session alongside a panel of experts.
Parents hope the event, taking place at City Screen Picturehouse on Wednesday (19 March), will help raise awareness about Mr. Brothers’ situation and the wider issues facing York’s education system.
The petition demanding Mr Brothers’ reinstatement, launched on February 28, and has gathered more than 1,000 signatures.
It states: “He hasn’t just been a teacher to our children but also an advocate for their rights and welfare.
“The recent suspension of Mr Brothers by Excel Learning Trust for dissenting against these detrimental budget cuts is an affront to free speech and utterly reprehensible.
“It underscores an atmosphere where fear supersedes the right to voice out concerns affecting academic welfare.”
The Excel Learning Trust , which runs six schools in York, including Millthorpe School, declined to comment
A spokesperson said: “We cannot provide public comment on any employment matters as these are confidential between individual employees and the trust.”
Parents agree that the budget cuts have led to noticeable drawbacks within the school, including staff cutbacks and larger class sizes.
They believe these changes have “visibly strained the teachers and hindered students’ academic growth”, and hope their efforts can improve this.
The screening planned for this Wednesday is a free event, but attendees are encouraged to book tickets in advance as there are limited spaces.
Event details:
- Wednesday 19 March 2025
- 6.30pm to 9.30pm (doors open 6pm)
- City Screen Picturehouse, Coney Street, York
- Ticket link here