Day 1 of a new round of strikes at Woodfield School as Trust attempt to use a soon to be unlawful 'fire & rehire' strategy against their workers

Today was Day 1 of a new round of strikes at Woodfield SEND School in Kingsbury, or Day 14 if you count all the strike days that have taken place since the Academy Trust that runs the school went on the offensive in trying to lower the wages and employment status of support staff at the school - staff who are absolutely vital in the care and education of young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

After an ACAS intervention and an unsatisfactory meagre offer from management, the Trust went back on the offensive and are attempting to operate a 'fire and rehire' strategy in which staff are sacked and then re-employed on worse terms.

Brent West MP, Barry Gardiner, was one of the main campaigners against this discredited and damaging to labour relations strategy that will be outlawed by January next year.  Why the Academy Trust decided to try and use this against their own staff before the law change and a use almost unknown in the education sector. is somewhat of a mystery.  The NEU is not prepared to standby while a precedent is set.

Despite a drenching, the mood on the picket line remained buoyant and determined. Messages of solidarity were received from NEU branches from all over the country.  Labour Party and Green Party councillors were on the  picket line in support of the strikers and there were loud toots of solidarity from passing traffic.

A series of strike days are planned in an effort to persuade the Academy Trust back to the negotiating table.

 

 

The spirit of Grunwick lends itself to the strikers 

 

Then the rain came down!

 

 

Cllr Iman Ahmadi Moghaddam  & Cllr Amandine Alexandre (Green Party)

 

 

Cllr Jake Rubin (lead member for schools) and Cllr Gwen Grahl (Brent Council deputy leader) 

 

If you would like to support the strikers please write to the chair of the  academy trustees on this LINK.

Cllr Gwen Grahl, Deputy Leader of Brent Council, backs Woodfield School strikers on eve of first of a series of strikes. Urges the Academy Trust to re-enter negotiations with the NEU

 

Note: Woodfield School is part of an Academy Trust, directly funded by the Government and does not come under local education authority oversight.

Brent NEU announced:    

NEU members at Woodfield School, run by Compass Learning Partnership- a special school catering for children and young people with complex needs and autism- are striking again, in their continued fight to retain their pay, resulting in the school being closed. The Trust have refused to negotiate further saying they will instead resort to a tactic of FIRE AND REHIRE (soon to be made an illegal practice).

Staff at the school believe their pay should not be cut whilst high executive salaries have been maintained despite the appointment of a new CEO who is not from a teaching background. The NEU has whistle blown over financial irregularities at the Trust and maintains that low paid frontline classroom staff and their pupils should not be the victims.

Jenny Cooper, local branch secretary, has stated:

We have the support of several local politicians including Barry Gardiner MP and we believe parents would prefer that the Trust negotiate their way out of this dispute. No one wants to see this level of strike action.

Peter, Georgia and the Chancellorship of Oxford University

Back in May 2017 Richard Osley wrote in the Camden New Journal about Georgia Gould's election to the leadership of Camden Council and the congratulations of a leading New Labour figure:   

Lord Mandelson was among well-wishers sending messages to Georgia Gould as she was confirmed as the next leader of Camden Council on Tuesday night. Councillor Gould stood uncontested for the role at the annual general meeting of the ruling Labour group.

Her “coronation” followed Sarah Hayward’s shock decision to step down as leader last month. Insiders said the lack of challengers to Cllr Gould – daughter of the late Lord Gould, Tony Blair’s pollster, and publishing powerhouse Baroness Gail Rebuck – meant she has the strongest command on the local Labour group any leader has had in years.

Lord Mandelson, who lives near Regent’s Park, said in a message to the 30-year-old: “Well done, Georgia, so proud of you as your Dad would be. You’ll be tremendous for Camden – my borough – and for the party.” Family friends Alastair Campbell, Mr Blair’s former press chief, and Fiona Millar have also wished her well in recent weeks, predicting she will excel as leader.

Seven years later in August 2024 Lord Mandelson wrote to Ms Gould, now MP for Queens Park and Maida Vale and at the time parliamentary secretary to the Cabinet Office, to solicit her  assistance in his bid to become Chancellor of Oxford University. The inner workings of the New Labour 'old boys and girls' network is revealed in the Mandelson Papers published today LINK:

It didn't work out for Peter Mandelson as he was beaten by Tory William Hague, probably a good thing in retrospect because in September 2025 he was stripped of all honours awarded to him during his chancellorship of Manchester Metropolitan University (2016 to 2024). He moved on to campaign for the Oxford University at the end of his tenure in that post.

Manchester's action followed the revelations about Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. 

Georgia Gould on Good Morning Britain February 2026

 

In February of this year Richard Osley returned to the subject in the Camden New Journal reporting on Gould's TV round under the headline 'Former council leader ‘shocked’ at family friend Mandelson’s conduct.' 

While appearing on Sophy Ridge’s politics show on Sky on Sunday, Ms Gould was asked whether the public had lost faith in the system because friends, relatives and spouses were often connected in power circles.

“We are harder on random people than we are on friends and family,” Ms Ridge suggested, to which Ms Gould replied that the new intake of Labour MPs at the 2024 general election had been “people from all walks of life”.

She added: “I’m really clear on my values and my integrity. I would uphold that regardless of the individual – if I knew them or not.”

Capital Summertime Ball at Wembley Stadium Saturday June 6th - road closures from 11am until after midnight

 

LETTER: Chalkhill Park left in a mess after birthday celebration

 

Dear Editor,

 

What is wrong with the local residents that use Chalkhill Park.  The amount of bottles, cans and takeaway strewn all around, especially near seats where bins are located is atrocious.  Are all these people sight impaired?  

 

You cannot say there are not enough bins, because there are!  Foxes and vermin cannot be blamed for strewing cans and bottles it's not something they do!

 

What is really disgusting is that some people decided to hold a Birthday Party in the Park and chalk birthday greetings on the steps and paving.... which is fine, nobody gonna argue about that but guess what? They left all the drawing materials i.e tubes of paint/chalk etc  empty but just left on the steps and all the glass bottles of Vodka, broken glass etc, joke is they are left in very close proximity to the bins.  

 

What is wrong with people, they do not appreciate this lovely little park. I give up as I never actually see the culprits doing this.

 

I hope you can spread the word and actively encourage other residents to name and shame if they see people doing this.

 

I'm guessing that these are the same people who would chastise me if they saw my dog fouling and I didn't pick it up!  Jokers!

 

(Name supplied)

Clean Air Community Fun Day Sunday 7th June, Neasden Shopping Parade 11am-5pm

 

Engagement Event at former Bowls Pavilion, King Edward VII Park, Wembley on Saturday 12.30pm to 4.30pm

 

The group who have taken over the disused Bowling Club Pavilion at King Edward VII Park are holding the above event on Saturday. to discuss how it will serve the community.

Great idea, but unfortunately it falls on the Rugby Challenge Cup Event Day with other matches starting in the morning. Expect the usual parking restrictions and bus diversions with the additional complication that the Bakerloo and Lioness Lines are not running  at Wembey Central and Wembley Stadium station will be closed.

Wembley Central and Wembley Stadium stations closed this weekend despite Rugby Challenge Cup on Saturday and Women's FA Cup on Sunday - expect disruption

 

BAKERLOO LINE: Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May, no service between Queens Park and Harrow & Wealdstone. There will also be no LIONESS LINE service between Euston and Watford Junction. A very limited SOUTHERN service will continue to serve Wembley Central early and late on Saturday and on Sunday, and LONDON NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY trains stop at Harrow & Wealdstone. If travelling to Wembley for the Rugby League Challenge Cup Finals on Saturday or the Women's FA Cup Final on Sunday. Special bus service 718 operates

 

For safety reasons, Wembley Stadium Station will be closed during the following event days:

• Rugby Challenge Cup – 30 May
• Women’s FA Cup Final – 31 May

 

Why are we doing this:

 

Engineering works between London Euston and Birmingham New Street means we need to increase the frequency and length of our trains between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street on the above dates. As a result of this, our capacity is limited to serve Wembley Stadium Station for the events.

 

For safety reasons, Wembley Stadium Station will be closed on the above dates. Those travelling via public transport to or from Wembley Stadium should travel via Wembley Park underground station, or relevant bus routes. 

 

As usual buses will be on diversion