Furness School staff to strike after academy trust's refusal of independent investigation into bullying allegations

Furness Primary School members of the National Education Union (NEU) are to strike on Thursday July 18th after the Chair of Trustees, Jo Jhally, refused a request for an independent investigation into allegations of bullying by management at the school.

Lesley Gouldbourne, Brent NEU Secretary, said:

I don't understand the Trustees' reluctance to investigate these complaints - they have a duty of care to these staff which they are just not exercising. Why should my members live in fear?

Furness is no longer directly accountable to the local authority as it formed a Multi-Academy Trust with Oakington Manor Primary School in March 2016 under an Executive Headteacher LINK.

Furness parents and staff opposed the academisation LINK and asked for a secret ballot on the proposal and Cllr Kelcher asked the then lead member for Children and Families, Ruth Moher to adopt a more interventionist approach on the issue to try and retain Furness as a local authority school LINK.

There will be a picket line at the school in Furness Road, Harlesden, from 7.30am - 9am on Thursday.

59% of primary NEU members voting in ballot supported tests boycott but turnout did not meet Government imposed threshold

From Mary Bousted & Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretaries of the National Education Union have sent this message to NEU members in primary schools

The union’s executive met on Saturday, 13 July and looked at the results of our indicative ballot of over 50,000 primary members.

Our members resoundingly told us that they want to high stakes tests replaced by better alternatives inour primary schools. 

It was the biggest survey of primary educators for decades, with 50,000 voting by 97 per cent that they want high stakes tests to end.

While the results showed members are not yet ready to engage in a national boycott, they made it absolutely clear they want the union to continue our campaign for an alternative. 

Although 39 per cent of members voted and 59 per cent of those supported calls to boycott, this wasn’t enough to reach the Government’s imposed double thresholds for industrial action in schools. 

To reach those, 50 per cent of all members would have to cast a vote and 40 per cent of all members would need to vote yes.

The union will continue our campaign to secure changes to the way we assess our youngest children,and engage with politicians of all parties in Parliament and local councils on this issue.

We will also continue to work with Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens – all of whom agree with us that high-stakes testing must stop – on their assessment policy proposals. 

We’d like to thank you for taking part in the biggest-ever survey of primary practitioners on this issue and will keep you posted on the next steps in our campaign to stop these toxic tests. 

The union is backing a petition against reception baseline assessment, which is being piloted in some schools from September.

Help us to keep up the pressure by signing and sharing the More Than A Score petition against baseline and visit our website to find out more about our assessment campaign.

Thank you for your continued support for our union and everything you do for the children in your schools and colleges.

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Do you have a story to share about Windrush? We would like to hear from you.

From Learning Through the Arts

We are collecting stories of Windrush Migrants and their descendants with a connection to Brent. If you have a story you would like to share, please contact us by August: events@learningthroughthearts.co.uk  //  07510 917517.  In collaboration with Brent Museum & Archives and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Deanna Christou

Arts and Heritage Officer

Brent Civic Centre witnesses a tide of support for threatened Strathcona School as staff, parents & pupils occupy the atrium steps

Kiri Tunks, Joint National President of the NEU, addresses the protesters

From Brent National Education Union

The fight to save Strathcona School, Wembley, intensified On Wednesday. Staff, parents and children in greater numbers than last time, joined union colleagues on the steps inside Brent Civic Centre. While they sang their song and waved their placards, leaflets were handed out to those working in the centre and to the public. They were very well received and made an impact.

Siluan Buliga, a Year 5 pupil who was there with his mother Oana, said:

 I learnt to speak English with the help of the teachers. Without the school we won't have knowledge as school is education. I am really sad.

 His mother Oana added:

The school is like a family. From the cooks to the teachers, all the staff work together. The school has been a great support and the children have done very well. I want to choose Strathcona for my next child who will be coming into Reception but Brent won't let me.

Another parent Vasantiben Kerai agreed the school has been very supportive and has made a great effort to support her two boys:

Another son is in High School and is in the top set because of the education he got at Strathcona.

Noreen Ahmed has had children at the school since it opened. She said:

My son has become more confident and opened up since going to Strathcona. They support the whole family as they did when I had health problems. They are like a family.

Brent Council intends to close the Roe Green Strathcona school site despite the fact that it is a very popular and successful school site. The Year 6 students achieved progress in the top 3% of schools in England in their SATs results this week. Cllr Muhammed Butt complimented the striking staff and parents on being very well behaved and making a colourful scene with their flags and placards. But staff say listen to our suggestions that will enable to school to stay open.

Kiri Tunks, Joint National President of NEU addressed the group praising them for their brave actions in speaking out against their school being closed. The protesters were also addressed by NEU London Executive members Stefan Simms and Hank Roberts, and representatives of Brent Trades Council.

Lesley Gouldbourne, Brent NEU Secretary said

 The Strathcona staff have shown great dignity and unity in their fight to keep their fantastic unit open. Shame on Brent Council for not listening to them.

Mary Adossides, Chair Brent Trades Council said:

 Brent Trades Council send a message of sport and solidarity to the striking staff of Roe Green Strathcona. Their fight in defence of education and jobs is a remarkable test of their determination to ensure the best for the children of Brent. May they win!

Cllr Jumbo Chan who sent solidarity greeting to the strikers said:

I fully support the brave staff, parents and other members of the Roe Green Strathcona community as they continue their extraordinary strike campaign to save their school from closure.

Rather than following the agenda of closure and privatisation set by the Conservative government, our Labour Brent Council should listen to these people who have shown so much dedication to public education, and support them to seek a new alternative.

Brent Council says that there are not enough students going there now that student numbers are dropping across the borough - but of course smaller schools and smaller classes are the best environment for Brent’s children (and after all its good enough for Eton!). And the school has submitted proposals to boost numbers by providing much needed places for SEND students.

An informal consultation received a massive 463 responses with all but 3 against (99.4%) - but Brent have ignored this and moved to a Formal consultation. Parents and staff say please join us and SAY NO to this consultation too.

Email  StrathconaConsultation@brent.gov.uk or write to Michael Rollin, Children and Young People, 5^th Floor, Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 OFJ

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Preston Community Library 'highly commended' in prestigious Library of the Year Award

From Preston Community Library Campaign

Preston Community Library has been “highly commended” in this year’s Bookseller's Library of the Year award.

The judges said that “For the first time, The Bookseller’s Library of the Year shortlist also includes a commendation for a volunteer-run library, Preston Community Library in Brent. Although the award supports professionally-run libraries with paid and qualified staff, this year we felt there should also be some recognition of the commitment and hard work shown by volunteers who keep a form of library provision in their community against the odds.”

Congratulations to all of our volunteers who work tirelessly to keep the library open. Above all, this award recognises the vital importance of local libraries to their communities, which is why thousands of people fought to keep Preston Library open, and continued to fight for several years to re-open it.

All of us at Preston Community Library agree that public libraries should be publicly funded, and run by paid professional staff. But, as custodians - for the time being - of Preston Library we are extremely proud of what we’ve achieved, and honoured to have been recognised in this year’s Library of the Year awards.

On its website LINK the Bookseller commented further:

In fact, Brent Library Service—hearing that the library has been attracting large audiences for its events—has asked Preston Community Library to bring two of its author events to its own libraries: one was held around Susie Boyt’s My Judy Garland Life (Virago), and the other, a Second World War memorial event with Elisa Segrave, was about her book The Girl from Station X (Ebury).

Open four days a week, the library is run by some 80 volunteers, the eldest being 97. The children’s library is “a well-stocked and animated environment”, and membership is around 1,400.

“This shortlisting couldn’t come at a more pressing time,” says literary event lead Geraldine Cook, who adds that the accolade is a “much-needed boost” for the management team (made up of the former library campaigners) who are determined to carry on running the library with all its activities, even when they may have to move the library temporarily, while the council develops the current site for flats.

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Barnhill SNT statement on last weekend's fatalities

From Barnhill Safer Neighbourhood Team

Our thoughts remain with the families of the two young men who have had their lives taken from them in the most horrific way.

We are working closely with our colleagues in the Homicide and Major Crime Command to establish what happened and to identify those responsible. I would urge anyone with information in relation to either murder to come forward and speak with us.

 As a result of the tragic shooting on Harrow Road on Friday, 5 July there was an enhanced police presence in the area throughout the night.

 A section 60 Order – enabling officers to carry out more stop and searches - was also authorised and this ran until 10:00hrs the following morning. This order was kept under constant review.

 Throughout the weekend we were working with partners and community groups to understand the impact of such violent incidents and deal with the consequences. This work will continue in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Across London, bearing down on violent crime on our streets continues to be the Met’s top priority.

 We are working tirelessly - day and night – to identify and pursue offenders, help bring perpetrators to justice, take weapons off the street, support victims, engage and reassure the public, and keep our communities safe.

Kind Regards

Barnhill Safer Neighbourhoods Team

If you need to reply regarding this message, click on this email address: c702912@met.police.uk

Regards,
Guler Mustafa 
Senior Office Assistant 
Neighbourhood Watch

Key decisions to be taken at Tuesday's Brent Planning Committee

There are a number of controversial planning applications due to be heard at the next Brent Planning Committee on Tuesday July 16th (6pm Brent Civic Centre). Details are here in case any individuals or groups want to make representations at the Committee. Contact: Joe Kwateng, Governance Officer  Email: joe.kwateng@brent.gov.uk  020 8937 1354

	APPLICATIONS FOR DECISION PDF 58 KB   2A, Preston Waye and 283, 285 & 287 Preston Road, Harrow, HA3 (Ref.18/4902) PDF 720 KB   Olympic Way and land between Fulton Road and South Way including Green Car Park, Wembley Retail Park, 1-11 Rutherford Way, 20-28 Fulton Road, Land south of Fulton Road opposite Stadium Retail Park, land opposite Wembley Hilton, land opposite London Design (Ref.19/1387) PDF 272 KB   Bobby Moore Bridge and Underpass, Olympic Way, Wembley (Ref.19/1474) PDF 319 KB  1-12 INC, Queens Parade, Willesden Lane, Willesden, London, NW2 5HT (Ref.17/0322) PDF 360 KB   Willesden Green Baptist Church, High Road, London, NW10 2PR (Ref.18/4746) PDF 358 KB   All Units at 4-9 INC, and Garages rear of 4-9 Gladstone Parade, Edgware Road, Cricklewood, London (Ref.18/4777) PDF 417 KB

TUC calls for a cross-party 'Just Transition Commission' to pave the way for low-carbon economy

The TUC has today (Monday) published A just transition to a greener, fairer economy – a roadmap to meeting the needs of working people in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The roadmap sets out proposals for:

1. A Just Transition Commission: a cross-party national commission including business, consumers and unions to plan a clear and funded path to a low-carbon economy.
2. Workplace Transition Agreements: to put workers’ voices at the heart of transition plans in every workplace where change is required.
3. Transition skills funding: so that every worker has access to training in the new skills needed for a low carbon economy, and guaranteed pathways to new work.
4. Employment standard protections: to ensure new jobs in the low carbon economy are not of lower quality than jobs that are changed or superseded.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

Trade unions are committed to addressing the climate emergency. A greener economy can be a fairer economy too, with new work and better jobs right across Britain.

It’s vital to avoid the mistakes of the 1980s, when industrial change devastated communities because workers had no say. This time we need a plan that everyone can get behind, with workers’ voices at the heart of it.

That’s why we’re calling for a politicians, businesses, consumers and unions to make those plans together, through a Just Transition Commission.