STRIKE action planned for November at Norlington School for Boys has been postponed.

The action at the Leyton school, in Norlington Road, was due to take place on November 3 and 4 over controversial plans to form a school trust with George Mitchell All-Through School.

But no walkouts will now take place until after a meeting of the school's governing body on November 4 and will take place the following week if they go ahead at all.

Rinaldo Frezzato, Waltham Forest branch secretary of teachers' union the NUT, said: “The strike has now changed.

“Late on Friday, we agreed that the governing body meeting on November 4 should go ahead first.”

However, he added that strike action was still a possibility if no ground was gained following the meeting.

He said: “We considered it and decided to let the governing body meet without being pressured by having the strike on the same day.

“The members then voted to request the executive of the union to hold the strike the following week for three days.”

The union has already held two one-day walkouts this year over proposals to form a school trust, which first came to light as early as 2007.

The council has also been working to bring about proposals to build a new school to house Norlington pupils on part of Leyton Sports Ground.

It has already been confirmed by the Charity Commission that the authority cannot 'appropriate', or seize, the land as it is held in trust It is also covered by a covenant stipulating it must be used for recreational and leisure purposes.

Parents, teachers and campaigners have all objected strongly to the plans as they feel they will not be beneficial to pupils and will have a detrimental impact on the surrounding area.

Mr Frezzato said last week that a two-day strike was planned for November but today confirmed it will not go ahead and no firm plans are yet in place to reschedule the action.

However, plans are also in place to take the dispute to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), which aims to resolve employment issues.

Executive head of Norlington Ruth Woodward said: "Discussions have taken place which have resulted in the strike being averted.

"Negotiations are currently underway to find a satisfactory solution to the situation and to that end, the school has offered to go to ACAS.

"I'm pleased to report that the NUT has agreed and both parties will meet with ACAS on Wednesday October 28."

Follow the Waltham Forest Guardian on Twitter - click here