Teachers strike over school plans

An east London school has closed for three days while teachers strike over plans to change its status.

Norlington Boys School in Waltham Forest, which has 600 pupils, is earmarked to become a trust, taking it out of local authority control.

Talks at arbitration service ACAS at half-term failed to reach agreement and 26 staff, members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), went on strike.

Waltham Forest Council said they supported the governors' decision.

'Dismantling authorities'

Rinaldo Frezzato, of the NUT, said: "No-one in the community asked for this change - neither teachers nor parents.

"Even the governors were split, with six in favour, three against and three abstaining - that's how close it was.

"There is absolutely no evidence that taking schools out of local authority control raises educational standards.

"My union is very concerned about the dismantling of education authorities by the creation of trusts."

The NUT nationally is opposed to the government's policy of converting community schools into privately-run academies and trusts.

'Benefit the school'

The union took two days of action at the school in July and head teacher Jennifer Bax resigned at the end of last term.

Councillor Liaquat Ali, Waltham Forest Council's cabinet member for children and young people, said: "I am extremely concerned that the welfare and education of Norlington pupils continues to be threatened by a dispute that is completely out of their hands.

"This dispute relates to a decision taken by the school's governing body, which they believe will best benefit the entire school and its pupils.

"As such, the Council fully supports the governing body's decision."