Support staff at Great Cornard’s Pot Kiln Primary School walk out in protest against planned job cuts

Upset school staff say they are campaigning for their dignity and the welfare of the pupils they support, as they stepped out of the classroom and on to the streets in protest this week.

Industrial action against planned job cuts at Pot Kiln Primary School in Great Cornard has begun, with 24-hour walkouts taking place on Thursday and again on Monday.

Backed by the national trade union Unison, teaching assistants and midday supervisors picketed outside the school entrance in Butt Road, before marching along Kings Hill and Cats Lane.

The demonstration was organised in solidarity with the 10 members of support staff who are set to be made redundant from the school in Butt Road, in response to what has been described as an “unforeseen” budget deficit of £75,000.

School leaders argue the current number of support staff is higher than other schools of a similar size.

However, Unison argues there is also an above-average number of pupils with special educational needs enrolled there, who benefit from one-to-one learning assistance.

Winston Dorsett, the union’s eastern regional organiser, said: “There has been no let-up in the resolve of Pot Kiln’s teaching assistants and midday supervisors to save their jobs and defend their children's education.

“The school leadership and Suffolk County Council must recognise how vital these jobs are, and stop trying to make workers and pupils suffer for their own financial mistakes.”

Pot Kiln headteacher Laura Jestico stated that lessons continued at school as normal during the industrial action, but she acknowledged the level of support for the strikes.

“The school is very happy to keep lines of communication open with Unison and our staff, as we go forward into the future,” she said.

“The governors and myself are very proud of our wonderful school.

“We will continue to work to provide the best education for our children, both now and in the future.”