Students at Connaught School for Girls in Leytonstone have staged a counter-protest against ongoing teacher strikes, as industrial action continues to disrupt schools across the London borough of Waltham Forest. The counter-protest comes amid a wave of strikes by members of the National Education Union (NEU) over restructures, redundancies, and budget cuts.
At South Grove Primary School in Walthamstow, teachers have been on strike over a school-wide restructure that will lead to job losses and reduced support for pupils with special educational needs. The school has been running a deficit for years, partly due to an expensive private finance initiative and rising costs. Parents joined the picket line in support, with mother Stephanie Cobb stating, 'We're here because we love our teachers.'
However, elsewhere in the borough, some parents have expressed concern about the impact of persistent strike action. At Connaught School for Girls, students took part in a counter-protest demanding an end to the strikes. The school has been affected by the industrial action, which has also hit Henry Maynard Primary School, South Chingford Foundation School, and Belmont Park School, which caters for pupils with special educational needs.
NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede said the industrial action in Waltham Forest reflects a wider crisis across London, driven by falling pupil numbers due to low birth rates and gentrification. According to NEU figures, 13 workplaces in Waltham Forest have voted for strike action this academic year, and across London there have been 26 disputes over redundancies, restructures, and school closures.
Kebede warned that a formal national ballot of NEU members this autumn could bring schools across the country to a standstill, as in 2023 when teachers took eight days of strike action. The union is demanding an above-inflation pay rise fully funded by the government. 'Strike action is a last resort,' Kebede said. 'But unless the government invests in education, they are going to face the biggest strike in the history of the union.'
