Union members at Norlington School for Boys yesterday went on strike over controversial plans to merge with two other schools (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Union members at Norlington School for Boys yesterday went on strike over controversial plans to merge with two other schools

9:39am Friday 3rd July 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(1)

STRIKING teachers say removing a Leyton secondary school from local authority control will not benefit pupils.

Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) picketed outside Norlington School, in Norlington Road, during a one-day walk out on Thursday (July 2).

The strike was called over a controversial plan to give the school trust status and hand complete control to trustees, the majority of whom will be members of the Institute of Education (IOE).

Under the proposal, Norlington will merge with nearby Beaumont Primary and George Mitchell Schools.

Kevin Carty, who teaches at Norlington, said: “The governors of the school decided some time ago that they were going to change the school's status.

“They opened what they called a consultation in which they told us we're getting a trust and it was non-negotiable.”

But members of the NUT at Norlington believe trust status will not benefit the school and say the decision was forced through.

Another teacher, Dennis Donovan, said: “At least one other school in the borough has remained a community school and got funding.

“We're asking why we couldn't have that option.”

And protests have also been raised over plans to build new school buildings on the Leyton cricket ground, which is currently held in trust by the Charity Commission.

NUT secretary Rinaldo Frezzato said: “The fundamental weakness in the argument for trusts is that they keep saying they want to improve teaching and learning but none of them have ever explained how that's supposed to happen.”

But there are claims that union members at the IOE were unaware of the proposals and are to boycott involvement.

The NUT is also to form a partnership with University and College Union (UCU) in an attempt to prevent the plans from going ahead.

Cabinet member for children and young people Liaquat Ali said: “Educating Norlington’s pupils must come first and the Council is working tirelessly with the NUT to try and resolve the issue.”