These are the "old updates" from the year 1999 - 2000. Local newsletters are also available.
NEWS: 26TH NOVEMBER
CAMBRIDGE EDUCATION ASSOCIATES HAVE WON THE CONTRACT FOR ISLINGTON EDUCATION SERVICE. THIS IS SUBJECT TO NEGOTIATION OF A FINAL CONTRACT OVER THE NEXT THREE WEEKS
UPDATE: 29TH JANUARY 2000
Cambridge Education Associates (partners Cambridge Education Consultants/Mott McDonnell) last week signed the contract with London Borough of Islington, notwithstanding that considerable portions of the contract remain to be agreed. In effect this is a "heads of terms" of agreement where both parties have agreed the issues of principle, but not matters of detail. Unfortunately it is in these points of "detail" that future disputes can arise. For more...
UPDATE: 3RD APRIL
Melanie Owen of Mt Carmel School has been elected teacher representative for the North Islington Education Action Zone. Islington NASUWT is still in dispute with the EAZ about the lack of any consultation, methods for consultation and the level of teacher representation.
UPDATE: 6TH MAY
A lot of time has been taken up locally dealing with consultations about redundancies. The majority of these "potential" redundancies are in the Ethnic Minority Achievement Service (EMAS) as a result of the funding devolved to various schools changing. The irony is that the process is not occurring elsewhere in London, since most other authorities have realised that in most instances, transferring funding from one school to another means that jobs are transferred, not lost. Several schools: heads, governors, staff, union representatives are going through the process, supported by the personnel department. In most cases, however, not enough time has been allowed for consultation.
UPDATE: 20TH JUNE 2000
CEA@Islington (the private company which has contracted to carry out most of the role of the LEA) have decided to close Colebrooke PRU. This centre has been operating largely as an EBD school (until Sept 1998 it was a special school) receiving referrals from local schools and other PRU's. The children's academic progress was criticised. Staff were first "consulted" a month ago when they were told the PRU would not open again this September.
UPDATE 28TH JUNE 2000
Martin Johnson, the NASUWT National President, visited Islington to meet members, visit schools and meet the Director of School Services for CEA, Vincent McDonnell. In the evening he attended the Summer party for school representatives arranged by the London association.