The picket on the second day of strike action by teaching assistants at the Woodfield School was well-attended, and with workers in an upbeat mood, reports Pete Webster

The management of the school was greeted on a cold but sunny Tuesday morning by a large picket at the gates that sent them a message that this strike was solid. The CEO and other bosses were scheduled to meet with NEU reps later in an attempt to resolve the dispute.

Woodfield School Brent is a special school with over 47 teaching assistants. All are having their pay cut in a restructuring exercise to fund top executive pay at the Trust. 

The action follows a one-day strike last week that saw some movement from management. They generously suggested the dispute could be resolved by delaying the pay cuts until October 2026! Not surprisingly, this was rejected outright and so the struggle continues.

As joint Branch Secretary Lucy said, ‘Management need a rethink! Less at the top, more in the classroom – more staff, more money, more respect! Our frontline staff demand decent pay and conditions!’

The other non-NEU support staff employed there are also under threat and a victory for the TAs would bolster their confidence to challenge changes to their terms and conditions too.

The school is run by the Compass Learning Trust, the same academy that saw The Village School strike over three days last term because pay was docked when staff attended medical and antenatal appointments. The management was forced to back down and the strikers won all their demands.

An early and equitable resolution would be a good outcome to negotiations but, if not, the union members are determined to pursue the same course of action that has won previously with a further strike Wednesday 26 November followed by an escalation of action next week if needed.

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