Teachers at troubled chain of free schools to be balloted on strike action

Move comes after Canary Wharf College proposes its takeover by another local academy chain – and then announces plans to cut its distinctive long holidays while reducing length of the school day, with two months’ notice.

Teachers at a chain of free schools in East London could go on strike over plans by their management to cut their holidays under a radical shake-up of the academic year, introduced at short notice with a takeover by another academy trust seemingly in the offing.

At a meeting 10 days ago, National Education Union members at the three-school Canary Wharf College (CWC) voted unanimously for an indicative ballot on strike action over plans to scrap the chain’s distinctive long holidays, while also reducing the length of the school day.

Parents are also up in arms, and have started two petitions against recent changes unveiled by CWC and its interim chief executive, Gillian Kemp. Ms Kemp combines this role with leading another local academy chain, the University Schools Trust East London, with which it is now proposing to merge.

The developments spell another period of upheaval for CWC, which endured two years of controversy under Ms Kemp’s predecessor as chief executive, Joanne Taylor, including a day of strike action in 2023.