Open letter to Redbridge Council

Dear Cllr Jas Athwal,

(cc Cllr Elaine Norman, Cabinet member for Children and Young People; Colin Stewart Director of Education; Wes Streeting, MP Ilford North; Mr. M Omer, Chair of Governors; Ms J Hamill, Headteacher)

We are writing to you as parents at Oaks Parks High School.

We are aware that members of the National Education Union (NEU) are taking strike action at the school over bullying of staff and the sacking of their union co-rep, Keiran Mahon.

Having attended a parents' meeting convened by the NEU in September and October, we understand that strike action began on the 15th of June and will continue until the end of November, unless resolved. The dispute at the school has been going on for four months and we believe the disruption to our children's learning cannot be allowed to continue.

We are writing to ask that you use your position of responsibility for education in the borough and intervene in the dispute with a view to bringing a resolution to it as soon as possible.

We urge you take up this issue as an urgent matter and help our school community to get back to some semblance of normality – we are sure you would agree that this is something much needed after the disruption we have faced due to Covid-19. We believe your intervention will encourage the headteacher to engage in meaningful talks with the National Education Union.

We look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Oaks Park High School Parents