Union slams school's plan to make nine teaching assistants redundant

“As a concerned parent I am horrified to hear about what is going on at the school, I feel that the wealth of experience these 16 teachers have has been disregarded. All of these members of staff have contributed to making Southwark an outstanding school. These members of staff are well respected and liked by the pupils and parents and I am sure that the knowledge they have on the way things work at the school and the personal relationships they have with the students is invaluable. I feel that this is a cost cutting exercise that will be detrimental to the students and the remaining staff.
The school has always had a positive atmosphere with both the staff and the students seeming proud to be part of it however recently the atmosphere has been much more subdued and having discussed this with lots of parents I think moral is at an all time low, this will be having a negative effect on the students.
The changes will have a particularly negative effect on the students with SEN who have developed very close and successful relationships with these teacher or teaching assistants and now will have to start again with new people they are not familiar with.
I feel that these changes are purely a business decision and are going to be very detrimental to the school and the students.”

“Southwark School.

Here....listen
I'll tell you how a school should be
It should be full of chatter, energy
And humour
Full of LIFE in capitals.
people should look forward to arriving even in the rain.
Children should laugh a lot
And sing a lot
And hug a lot
And so should ADULTS.

Compliments in raised voices should be heard
And echo around the heads of children
People should get to know themselves,
Accept themselves,
And make friends with themselves,
Accept themselves
Upon a daily basis.

Everyone should strive and know what for
Admitting every weakness
And discovering in admitting it
A strength.

God should be invited
And always be made welcome
'Till all the air is bright with hope
And night is driven back
Not just with weeping
But with sacrifice called WORK!
Emboldened with determination,
Critical reflection,
Lifted heads,
And Fun!

'That's quite a fancy
But you'll never find a school
Like this'
You say.
'Not so' say I

I ONCE KNEW ONE!

A legacy left to all of us true Southwark Stars who have split and now sharing the true Southwark love with our colleagues across the city, soon to be joined by the 16 amazingly talented first class TAs.
All that was ever gained I'm afraid is now about to be lost....not much true blood left now.”

“it is not nine members of staff it is 16. i received a letter from the school yesterday and was disgusted to see they are calling it a reduction in staff. this is definitely not the case as they are being replaced and also insulted by being asked if the new teacers can shadow them for the last week of term. this is a disgusting way to treat members of staff some of who have been teaching at the school for nearly twenty years!!!!!!!!!”

“Academy=Business? Qualified, experienced teaching assistants have a wealth of knowledge and understanding to share amongst colleagues, parents and children. They often volunteer to take on tasks in order to alleviate some of the stresses and pressure of their teacher colleagues. They support children with the severest most complex needs through to gifted and talented. For 11 to lose their posts and the others to fight over unqualified positions is outrageous. Newly qualified teachers, (with less experience,) may well be taken on in a bid to make things look better but as they will be paid approximately the same as the qualified TA's were getting, we have to ask, "where is the logic?" Not only that, what will happen to them in a year or twos' time when their salary should increase? The chop of course! So more cheap labour can be brought in. For a school which did so well in the past we can only hope that sense is seen before all the good work-which can only be achieved through teamwork, a good ethos, trust and good management is lost through poor business ideas.”

“The Post contacted the academy a number of times but no one was available for comment.

yes that cus head saunders is never there to busy spending the huge amount of wages she gets”

“Disgusting that parents have only just received a letter today two days after reading this outrageous news in the post!
If the parents, children and lower level staff mean so little just who is the school running for?
Lots for parents to think about I'm sure!”

“Seems like my previous comment re question on union is not going to well in the ratings!
It was a genuine question, obviously the union are backing the staff publically just wondered about the legalities!?”

“@irvine...yes so it would seem!

It's hard when she is surrounded by a solid coat of armour!”

“I understand how difficult it can be to deal with bullying - but someone, somewhere has to take a stand. Obviously I don't know the details but it sounds like the union have been a little wanting in their support for the rank and file.”

“@irvine,
Yes I am not only saying it, I could name a long list of staff who feel they were constructively dismissed!
Of course she was not taken to the employment tribune! what chance would the little people have? That is the whole point of the story!”