Key Points
- Woodfield School, a mixed secondary school in Kingsbury, Brent, North London, for pupils aged 11 to 19 with special educational needs including physical disabilities and autism, has closed due to strike action by National Education Union (NEU) members.
- Strikes have occurred over six days already, with three more planned for Wednesday 17 December, Thursday 18 December, and Friday 19 December 2025, ahead of Christmas.
- The dispute centres on cuts to pay and hours for learning support assistants, with weekly hours reduced from 36 to 32.5, resulting in a £250 monthly income loss per affected staff member.
- NEU Local Branch Secretary Jenny Cooper stated that the school and trust cannot operate without members, who form the frontline workforce, while top executives receive generous salaries.
- Union representatives attempted to resolve issues with the Compass Learning Partnership academy trust, but efforts failed, leading to continued strikes unless a reasonable offer is made.
- The school, part of the Compass Learning Partnership academy trust, has closed multiple times recently due to these walkouts.
Inverted Pyramid Structure
A special school in North London shut its doors today as National Education Union (NEU) members launched strike action amid ongoing disputes over pay cuts and reduced hours. Woodfield School in Kingsbury, Brent, catering to pupils aged 11 to 19 with special educational needs such as physical disabilities and autism, has now closed for a seventh day, with three further strikes scheduled before Christmas. The action highlights tensions within the Compass Learning Partnership academy trust, where learning support assistants face significant income losses.
As reported in the initial coverage from Harrow Online, the strikes have already spanned six days, forcing repeated closures. NEU members are fighting to retain their pay, with the union emphasising the essential role of frontline staff. This development underscores broader concerns in the education sector regarding funding and staff remuneration for special needs provisions.
What Triggered the Strike at Woodfield School?
The core issue revolves around proposed changes to working hours for learning support assistants at Woodfield School. According to NEU Local Branch Secretary Jenny Cooper, as cited in Harrow Online reporting, staff weekly hours are being reduced from 36 to 32.5 hours, equating to a £250 per month loss in income for each affected worker. Ms Cooper stated:
“This school and trust cannot operate without our members – they are the frontline workforce behind a company that generates generous salaries for its top executives. We do not see why staff in the classroom should see cuts to their pay when it is already so low.”
Harrow Online detailed that the NEU has framed this as a deliberate pay cut imposed by the trust. The union argues that such reductions undermine the vital support provided to vulnerable pupils, many of whom require specialised care for conditions like autism and physical disabilities. No additional sources have emerged contradicting this account, confirming the dispute’s focus on hours and pay equivalence.
Who Are the Key Players Involved?
Woodfield School operates as part of the Compass Learning Partnership academy trust, serving a diverse cohort of students with special educational needs. The NEU represents the striking members, primarily learning support assistants essential to daily operations. Jenny Cooper, NEU Local Branch Secretary, has been the primary voice for the union, articulating grievances in public statements covered by Harrow Online.
The trust has not issued public responses in available coverage, though the NEU claims repeated outreach attempts. Pupils aged 11 to 19, including those with physical disabilities and autism, bear the indirect impact through disrupted education. Parents and the local Brent community remain unquoted in initial reports, but the school’s location in Kingsbury amplifies local concern.
Why Have Previous Negotiations Failed?
NEU representatives reached out to the Compass Learning Partnership academy trust to avert strikes, as noted in Harrow Online. However, these efforts yielded no resolution, prompting the six prior walkouts and upcoming actions. Ms Cooper explained that additional strikes on Wednesday 17 December, Thursday 18 December, and Friday 19 December will proceed unless the school presents a reasonable offer beforehand.
The union’s position, per Ms Cooper’s statement, highlights a perceived imbalance: frontline staff face cuts while executives enjoy high salaries. Harrow Online coverage indicates no progress despite dialogue, suggesting entrenched positions. This stalemate risks further disruption during the pre-Christmas period, a critical time for student stability.
What Is the Impact on Pupils and Parents?
Woodfield School’s repeated closures disrupt education for its specialised pupil body. As a mixed secondary school for ages 11 to 19, it provides tailored support for physical disabilities and autism, making consistent attendance vital. Strikes over six days already, plus three more planned, equate to substantial lost learning time before the holidays.
No direct pupil or parent statements appear in Harrow Online’s account, but the NEU underscores staff as irreplaceable for operations. Families in Kingsbury, Brent, face childcare challenges and educational setbacks. The trust’s silence leaves uncertainty about alternative provisions during strikes.
How Does This Fit into Broader Education Disputes?
This action mirrors wider UK tensions over special education funding and staff pay. Learning support roles, often low-paid, face squeezes amid rising needs post-pandemic. NEU’s campaign at Woodfield emphasises retaining hours to maintain income parity, a recurring theme in academy trust negotiations.
Harrow Online positions this as part of ongoing closures, with the trust generating revenue yet cutting frontline pay. Similar disputes elsewhere involve unions pushing back against hour reductions disguised as efficiency measures. The pre-Christmas timing escalates pressure, potentially affecting year-end assessments.
What Are the Planned Strike Dates and Conditions?
Three further strikes are set for next week: Wednesday 17 December, Thursday 18 December, and Friday 19 December 2025. Ms Cooper, as quoted in Harrow Online, confirmed these will occur unless the trust responds with a reasonable offer. The six prior days establish a pattern of full closures.
No contingencies for partial operations are mentioned. The NEU’s stance remains firm, prioritising pay protection. This schedule threatens a nine-day total strike impact before Christmas break.
When Did the Strikes Begin and Evolve?
Strikes commenced prior to today’s action, accumulating six days by this report. Woodfield School, linked to Kingsbury in Brent, has closed repeatedly as NEU members walked out. Harrow Online traces this to unresolved pay and hours disputes with the Compass Learning Partnership.
Evolution stems from failed talks, with the union escalating to protect members. The trust’s academy model, meant for autonomy, now faces scrutiny over staff treatment.
Where Exactly Is Woodfield School Located?
Woodfield School sits in Kingsbury, Brent, North London, as a dedicated facility for special needs pupils aged 11 to 19. Harrow Online tags it under Kingsbury coverage, noting its Compass Learning Partnership affiliation. Accessibility for local families underscores community stakes.
The site’s specifics aid understanding of regional education pressures in outer London boroughs like Brent.
Who Leads the Compass Learning Partnership?
The academy trust oversees Woodfield but lacks named leadership in available reports. NEU critiques imply executive salaries contrast with staff cuts, per Ms Cooper. Harrow Online implies operational reliance on union members.
Further trust details remain absent, focusing coverage on the school and union.
Will Strikes Continue After Christmas?
No post-Christmas plans are detailed in Harrow Online. Focus remains on the three imminent days, conditional on offers. Ms Cooper’s comments suggest openness to resolution but commitment to action without concessions.
Longer-term depends on trust response, with NEU poised for sustained pressure.
What Support Exists for Affected Families?
Initial coverage omits alternative provisions. Disruptions challenge parents managing special needs pupils. Brent Council or trust contingency plans go unmentioned.
NEU prioritises staff but acknowledges pupil impacts implicitly.
How Can the Dispute Be Resolved?
Resolution requires a “reasonable offer” from the school, as per Ms Cooper in Harrow Online. Restoring hours to 36 weekly would address core grievances. Union outreach history indicates willingness for talks.
Neutral facilitation, perhaps via ACAS, could bridge gaps, though unproposed.
