Barry Gardiner MP at the demonstration against forced academisation of Byron Court. The placard sums up early concerns about the Harris Federation
From Brent National Education Union
NEU members at the former Byron Court Primary School- now Harris Primary Academy South Kenton- are balloting for strike action in a fight to retain their proper working conditions.
Teachers and support staff at the school have met together regularly since the takeover of their school by the huge Harris Federation, to discuss the worsening of their working conditions. A year ago they learned their school had failed its Ofsted and, after a financial donation to the Labour Party by Harris bosses, it was announced that Harris would be taking over the school. Since then there have been changes to the school day, the school year, the curriculum and style of teaching, working hours, roles and responsibilities and rights of trade union reps. Members have tried to resolve these but after more than a term, the Federation has not agreed to reverse the changes.
The NEU is now balloting its members in the school, alongside a national ballot of 18 Harris secondary schools who are balloting on very similar issues.
Jenny Cooper of the NEU national executive said:
This school cannot operate without our members- they are the frontline workforce behind a company that generates half a million a year for its CEO. The staff remain steadfast in their determination to exercise their rights despite attempted interference in our union processes by the Federation. The NEU remains willing to meet with the school to resolve this dispute in which case the ballot could be suspended; however they will need to be prepared to make some changes.
The issues began to emerge in October last year soon after the Federation takeover. Jenny Cooper told the Education Uncovered website about the pressures exerted by 'consultants' on experienced staff to change their teaching methods LINK:
We are being told that for a large part of the week there are consultants in the room with [NEU members], either watching them, or taking over, showing them how they think a particular aspect [of learning] should be taught. So early years should be taught like this, or reading, or maths, or whatever, and expecting the person to instantly take up this new way of teaching, which the person themselves doesn’t necessarily agree with.
In some cases, that teacher has got 10 or 20 years’ experience in this area, and who knows what the consultant has got? And yet they are kind of lording it above them. I think that’s really uncomfortable. It just looks like every aspect that they are teaching is being kind of thrown out and starting again.
The NEU members at Harris Primary Academy are not alone. Educators across the Federation's schools have decided enough is enough and are taking part in the ballot for action.
They say:
Hundreds of NEU educators, including teachers, middle leaders, support staff, and more, play a crucial role in the success of Harris Federation schools. We are committed to providing students with an exceptional education, and our dedication to educating and supporting students is unwavering. However, the current conditions are making it increasingly challenging for us to carry out this important work. It doesn't have to be this way; we are advocating for change.
The
fight for fairer workloads, pay and conditions, as well as equal
treatment for Caribbean and overseas-trained teachers, is crucial for
the well-being of educators and the success of the students they serve.
By advocating for these improvements, we can create an environment where
both staff and students thrive.
18 comments:
So glad they're standing up for themselves!!!
What worsened conditions? This is a ridiculous smear campaign because alot of parents like us feel things have improved significantly
Please divert your attentions where needed.
Was not Byron Court judged as failing by Ofsted? Having been a teacher for 10 or 20 years does not necessarily mean you are a "good" teacher". or that you should not be guided to improve. The last thing the children and parents of this school need is another strike. Schools need pupils to receive the full allocation of funding - if parents choose different schools and the school roll falls so will the funding and then this school is really doomed.
All the predictions before this takeover have come to fruition. Well done staff for taking action. Without this conditions for them and the children will only get worse. And all the while the CEOs pay is half a million plus benefits!
Good on the staff for fighting against them, as unhappy, overworked and tired teachers, working in a stressed environment is not good for the children. The children will end up, in a pressure cooker environment and will soon be stressed too...Mental health of adults and children is the main priority.
Solidarity with everyone at Byron Court. You have absolutely shown what it looks like to fight for your school, the kids, the community and education as a whole ✊🏽
Yes South Kenton/Byron failed its Ofset as the headmaster was awol, was understaffed the senior team, was negligent with the management and didn't have a proper succession plan plus had already been planning to academise the school unbeknownst to any of us. First we were told he had long covid, then that he had a spine injury but we found out he set up a property management company while he was off work. But the school results had already recovered before BC became Harris so they shouldn't take any credit for it, it was all due to the staffs' efforts and the interim staff brought in to bring the resourcing back up to required levels. The Academisation was a sham and shows that Harris isn't working. How can it a non profit with its approach to rapacious executive salaries.
What a joke! The school was failing and change was needed. The school has become so much better since September.
If it’s so bad, I wonder why the staff have stayed?
The NEU need to leave our school alone!
It isn’t working? Are you a parent at the school as many would disagree with you.
The results may have slightly improved but they are still poor compared to other schools in the area.
The school failed its Ofsted. So external help obviously needed. It makes sense to have consultants therefore who are experienced in school improvement. Of course there have been changes. Whatever came before wasn't working.
The verified SATs results show that last year's results were way below average nationally and for the borough. Byron Court used to be outstanding and a changes was needed to bring improve the results for the children. Change is difficult but it it is time to put the needs of the children first who are not receiving the education they deserve.
Barry Gardiner has had any involvement since the election. He had no interest apart from votes because he hasn't returned after a disingenuous campaign.
Since September the school has finally had some stability. Why revert to instability again and force children to miss their education after a very difficult year last year? Allow the school to improve by implementing the changes that the Harris Federation have implemented at other previously failing schools which are now good or outstanding.
No, the results had NOT recovered before Harris took over the school.
Last week, validated data for KS2 outcomes 2023/24 were officially published. The national average for Year 6 children achieving the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths was 61%. We are very proud to share that the average across all the Harris Federation schools was 75%.The officially published data for our predecessor school, Byron Court, was published as 52%. This was 9% below the national average and significantly different to the information that was being shared at the end of last academic year.
I hate to be the one to break this to you, but the NEU is the school staff. And they are unhappy at how they are being treated. They have given Harris endless opportunities to listen to staff and act and all Harris have done is double down and give their CEO a pay rise. That half a million pounds is coming out of our pockets.
Stop blaming the staff and look at the greedy execs.
Honestly this NEU rep needs to get an education herself.
As a parent of a child in the school we are happy with the progress and greater communication. The senior management are much more capable and we are willing to trust them .
Many of the staff actually appear happier and there was not a round of resignations at October- wonder why???
The consultants seem to add a lot of value. If these experienced staff knew better how did the school get to where it was long before the ofsted report confirmed what we parents had suspected?
Sorry but the quotation above in the article is frankly ridiculous. Get back in your box.
Are you a teacher in the school?! If they are stating worsened conditions from the inside which is effecting their jobs, I'd trust them.
If Harris' support is so great, why are other schools striking? They have been accused of bullying techniques across many of their schools. Is this what you support? A shiny newsletter every week doesn't automatically mean things are better.
Lots of teachers left
The NEU don’t care about the children or families. They only care about their political ideologies. They have facilitated a culture of sub standard education for the children. The school wouldn’t have fallen so far had these so called ‘experienced’ teachers had been doing thier jobs to a respectable standard. If they are so good I imagine loads of other schools will be lining up to employ them.
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