Islington Arts and Media School teachers quit classrooms in dispute over job losses

Published: 27th May, 2011
by ANDREW JOHNSON

STRIKING teachers picketed outside Islington Arts and Media School on Thursday when they staged a one-day stoppage in a row over redundancies.

The teachers are trying to prevent four staff being compulsorily laid off. They argue that the move will lead to larger class sizes and damage education as more unqualified staff will be used. Ninety per cent of teachers voted for the action. 

The school says the redundancies are necessary because of spending cuts, falling rolls and previous financial mismanage­ment. But Ken Muller, assistant secretary of Islington National Union of Teachers, said: “Teachers and students are not responsible for either the school’s past financial ineptitude or an economic crisis caused by greedy bank­ers. Why should they be made to pay the cost?”

A decade ago the school, in Turle Road, Tollington, was branded one of the worst in the country. It made headlines in 2004 after the then headteacher Richard Ewen, credited with turning around its fortunes, was suspended after it was revealed to be £800,000 in the red. He was reinstated after an outcry from parents and governors.

Mr Muller added that the union had a policy of opposing compulsory redundan­cies but was willing to work with   the school to redeploy staff.

Headteacher Diana Osagie said: “Two years ago the yearly intake number was reduced, but the staffing structure was never changed to reflect that. This isn't a financially viable position to be in and that’s why, regrettably, we’re now having to make a reduction in teaching posts.

“We’re hoping to avoid any redundancies during this process. Three members of staff at risk of redundancy are being actively supported to find suitable redeployment elsewhere in the borough.”