wletters

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 8 February 2008

NUT action disrupts education

• STRIKES by a minority of staff at Pimlico School are counter-productive and only disrupt the education of the pupils.
For the second time in less than three months, the school’s 1,300 students missed out on a day’s valuable lessons because of the actions of a small number of NUT members who are unhappy over the length of their lunch break.
The latest action attracted barely a handful of protesters outside the school gate and the majority of staff ignored the protest and went to work as normal.
Under the council’s £152 million Building Schools for the Future programme, Pimlico is due to be completely rebuilt. The construction phase temporarily halves play and recreation space in the school which already has inadequate dining space.
The governors opted for a 30-minute lunch break, followed by an earlier closure time of 2.35pm, to keep break times safe and allow building work to take place in the afternoon.
We are pleased to report that pupil behaviour in afternoon lessons has already improved as a result of the new arrangements and has led to fewer referrals for disciplinary problems over lunch.
Our utmost concern has always been to make sure pupils have the best possible education in a safe environment. Following the changes we’ve made Pimlico, under the strong leadership of Jo Shuter and her team, is now starting to show real signs of recovery as confirmed in the latest Ofsted report.
When the £34 million rebuild is complete in 2010, it will have the best facilities it has ever had.
We hope NUT members, having registered their protest on two separate occasions, will now call off their planned third strike and agree to discuss the future of the school without disrupting the education of the children.
Cllr NICK YARKER
Deputy Cabinet Member for Children’s Services

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Your comments: