Students at Connaught School for Girls have staged a counter-protest against teachers taking part in an ongoing strike.
Pupils gathered outside the school, carrying signs including ‘Kids with more respect than adults’ and ‘Nice day off?’, urging striking teachers to return to classrooms during the GCSE exam season.
Footage shared online appeared to show some staff members laughing and applauding in response, sparking criticism from parents and social media users who accused teachers of dismissing students’ concerns.
The industrial action, led by members of the National Education Union (NEU), began on April 21 and is currently scheduled to continue until at least June 8.
Union representatives say the dispute centres on proposed redundancies, workload pressures, pay cuts, and the removal of subjects from the curriculum.
School leaders and some parents claim the strikes are also tied to an investigation into allegations of misconduct involving a unionised staff member.
According to a letter sent to parents by headteacher Alexander Silk, discussions mediated through ACAS broke down after union representatives allegedly suggested strike action could be withdrawn if the disciplinary investigation was dropped.
‘During ACAS negotiations last week, the union representative informed me that they would call off the strike action if we agreed to call off the investigation,’ Silk wrote. ‘We have not agreed to this.’
The strikes have caused major disruption across the school, with many pupils outside Year 11 remaining at home during parts of the industrial action
Footage shared online appeared to show some staff members laughing and applauding in response to the counter protesting students
He added that the school would not allow ‘external pressure to compromise a fair and proper investigation’.
The NEU denies wrongdoing and says the dispute concerns the ‘victimisation’ of union members by management.
A union spokesperson accused the school of leaking confidential details about the disciplinary process and argued that alternative approaches had been ignored.
The strikes have caused major disruption across the school, with many pupils outside Year 11 remaining at home during parts of the industrial action.
The timing has intensified anger among parents because GCSE examinations are now underway.
In a letter to families, the headteacher acknowledged the strikes would likely create ‘additional stress and anxiety’ for students and parents, despite efforts to minimise disruption for exam-year pupils.
Some parents have publicly condemned the walkouts. Anna Rothwell, whose child attends the school, accused union representatives of ‘holding the school to ransom’ and claimed the action was being pursued ‘with utter disregard for the education of hundreds of children’.
More than 200 parents and community members reportedly signed a petition calling for the strike to end, while others questioned whether the industrial action was proportionate.
More than 200 parents and community members reportedly signed a petition calling for the strike to end
Another parent said recent strikes at the school ‘make a mockery of the very important right to strike’, despite previously supporting teacher walkouts over pay and conditions.
The dispute has also drawn concern from local authorities.
A council spokesperson said officials were ‘very concerned’ about further disruption to children’s education and confirmed discussions had taken place with the Department for Education regarding the academy school.
The row comes amid wider industrial tensions across schools in north-east London.
Since 2022, Connaught School alone has reportedly lost 31 days to strike action, while schools across Haringey, Hackney, and Waltham Forest collectively lost 24 days to industrial disputes this year.
Despite criticism, support for the strike remains strong among union activists and some former pupils.
Around 30 supporters joined a picket line outside the school this week, including NEU members from across London, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire.
Former pupil Reqaiyah said she joined the protest because ‘the people in charge don’t care about the welfare of the staff or the success of the pupils’.
Union leaders also accuse school management of attempting to undermine the strike by using agency staff from Tradewind Recruitment to cover lessons, though campaigners claim the agency later withdrew from the arrangement after pressure from strikers.
NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede joined the picket line earlier this week, describing the proposed changes at Connaught as ‘a disgrace’.
‘What they’ve got planned for Connaught is a disgrace, removing subjects, removing teachers,’ he told supporters.
At present, neither side appears close to a resolution, leaving uncertainty for students and parents as exam season continues.
A joint rally was held outside the Department for Education on May 7, bringing together striking staff from four schools involved in separate but overlapping disputes across London, reports Counterfire.
Among those involved were staff from Great Ormond Street Hospital School, where the National Education Union (NEU) says three senior representatives, including union rep Kate Williams, were sacked following a collective grievance alleging bullying and misuse of disciplinary procedures.
The dispute, which began last September, has already led to more than 30 days of strike action, with the union claiming management has refused to negotiate since.
Members from Connaught School for Girls and Woodlands School were also campaigning against redundancies and trade union victimisation.
Highgate Woods School members were present too, campaigning against poor management and redundancies.
Speaking at the demonstration, Camden NEU representative Megan Quinn said the disputes ranged from ‘fair pay for support staff to extreme trade union victimisation and bullying’ across the different schools involved.
NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede told the rally that the disputes reflected wider national issues in education funding and staffing, criticising government austerity policies and calling for increased investment in schools.
He also warned of further escalation, urging members to prepare for upcoming industrial action ballots and arguing that the disputes were part of a broader fight over pay, conditions, and the future of the education system.
