Teachers and support staff are on strike until tomorrow (25th September) over concerns about pupil and staff safety amid ‘increased’ class sizes, reports Marco Marcelline

Tens of Whitefield School staff joined the picket line, Credit: Waltham Forest NEU

Staff at a special needs school in Walthamstow have gone on strike over “unsafe” working conditions and an “increased” workload.

Teachers and support staff picketed outside Whitefield School on 16th, 17th, 18th, 23rd, and 24th September in a strike organised by the Waltham Forest branch of the National Education Union (NEU). A further strike day tomorrow (25th September) may be followed by further action if there is no resolution, the NEU has warned.

In a statement, the NEU said that its members were taking action because of health and safety concerns linked to “increased” class sizes.

One staff member, who requested to stay anonymous, told the Echo: “Pupils and staff are not safe – class sizes have increased and are too large; alongside this there are not enough staff in each class, and the school management is forced to rely on agency staff.

“Management restructured the school just before the summer break, they did not consult with parents and there was minimal input from staff.

“Children do not have adequate spaces to regulate in – our secondary pupils have a car park as a play ground and our large green outdoor space has been closed indefinitely.”

She added that staff were regularly buying classroom resources, snacks and cooking ingredients “with their own money”.

Staff on the picket line, Credit: Waltham Forest NEU

A Whitefield School spokesperson said: “School leaders are working hard to resolve this complex situation while ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment for all. Every change we have introduced reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering the very best education and care for our students, and to upholding the highest standards of teaching and support.

“We also had a constructive session at ACAS last week and will follow this up with a further session on Friday, 26th September. Throughout this process, we have worked closely with the NEU and our staff. Our priority remains supporting our students and reaching a resolution as quickly as possible.”

In January, Whitefield School joined Learning in Harmony Trust, a large trust consisting of ten primary schools and two special schools across East London and Essex.

Whitefield School made headlines last year when a BBC investigation revealed at least 39 pupils were subjected to physical and psychological abuse while placed in so-called “calming rooms” at the school between 2014 and 2017.

Pupils were left alone in the window-less calming rooms for up to four hours at a time, sitting in urine, and eating crumbs off the floor. CCTV footage also shows children, many who were non-verbal, kicked and hit with force by staff.

No-one who worked at the school during the abuse has been prosecuted or arrested.

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