THE industrial dispute at Corringham's Gable Hall School has escalated into the formal 'lockout of at least 25 teachers - while angry parents have called a meeting to protest against the actions of the incoming educational trust that is planning budget cuts that will slash the school's education offer to local children. 

The failed Ortu Federation is currently running the school, under the guidance of Paul Hughes, CEO of the Hackney-based Mossbourne Trust which will take formal control on 1 January after originally having been selected by the Department for Education (DfE) to assume control in March this year. 

That switch was delayed three times while Mossbourne examined the Ortu Federation's books and then laid down a new budget saying it need med to cut more than £1 million in costs.

However, the change has brought contention with teachers and support staff, many of whom were told in November that their jobs are at risk. 

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While the change also involves Stanford-le-Hope's Hassenbrook Academy, where jobs will also go, the focal point for dispute has been at Gable Hall where members of teachers union NASUWT entered into a formal dispute over workload and working practices.

The dispute quickly escalated on Wednesday when teachers declined to undertake extra curricular activities and after being told they would not be paid, walked out. 

The Ortu Federation then confirmed its stance with a letter to the union that said: "During this period of industrial action, the participating employees should stay away from work and will not be paid."

"Participating staff will not be permitted to enter the premises or perform their duties until they are prepared to comply with their contractual obligations in 

Kim Vollerthun, Eastern region organiser at NASUWT, said the trust had introduced new policies which conflicted with the teachers' contractual agreements - such as staff having to supervise children at lunchtimes, during line-up before lessons and taking cover lessons.

"All of these elements and changes have a detrimental impact on their health and wellbeing and it has led to a lot of teachers leaving the school," said Mr Vollerthun.

Tearful teachers who joined a picket line outside the school said staff had already postponed action in November, hoping to reach a compromise.

One said said they had not been offered any time off in lieu or additional pay for what they believed were additional duties and were concerned about what they described as "adverse management".

Teachers at the school have been trying to negotiate with academy trust bosses over expected workloads

NASUWT said its members planned to refuse to undertake cover for absence, unless they were employed on a contract wholly or mainly on this basis.

The union said it had raised the matter directly with the secretary of state for education.

The Ortu Federation issued a statement saying it had asked staff members to "fulfil contractual obligations of 1,265 hours per academic year as set out in the current edition of the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document, which came into force on 3 November 2023".

It said: "The federation's objectives are for students to learn in a safe environment and make excellent progress."

However, those words have cut little ice with many parents, with some of their children at school being marshalled into a hall for hours where they were told to read books.

A collective of concerned parents from gable Hall, Hassenbrook Academy and sister Ortu school Corringham Primary have come together to arrange a meeting to 'voice growing concerns' pending the Mossbourne Federation takeover. The meeting will take place on Thursday, 2 January at Homesteads Village Hall, Dunstable Road, Stanford-le-Hope at 7pm. 

Parents organising the meeting have made contact with parents in Hackney, where Mossbourne has five schools. While those schools have achieved excellent Ofsted ratings, concerns have been raised about schools management and exclusion.

The 'Educating Hackney' campaign group has been invited to the Stanford parents meeting, as have Secretary of State for Education, Bridgete Phillipson, Thurrock Council's children's portfolio holder Cllr Vikki Hartstean, South Basildon and East Thurrock MP James McMurdock, Regional Director at the Department of Education Jonathan Duff and local councillors.