Parents, children, and teachers gathered in Walthamstow on 22 May to protest against school funding cuts, highlighting a growing divide over industrial action in London schools. The protest, captured by photographer Martin Godwin, underscores the tensions within the community as teachers strike over financial pressures.
Wave of Strikes in Waltham Forest
South Grove primary school in Walthamstow closed its gates to pupils last week as teachers from the National Education Union (NEU) went on strike. This action is part of a broader wave of industrial action across the borough of Waltham Forest, affecting several schools including Henry Maynard primary school, South Chingford foundation school, Connaught school for girls, Leytonstone, and Belmont Park school, which serves pupils with special educational needs.
Next week, South Grove will close for an additional five days of strikes, leaving working parents scrambling for childcare. Despite the disruption, some parents joined staff on the picket line, showing support for their fight against a school-wide restructure that will lead to job losses and reduced support for children with special educational needs.
Financial Pressures on Schools
South Grove, a successful and sought-after school, has been running a deficit for years. It is locked into an expensive private finance initiative, faces rising costs for special needs provision, and has a new catering deal costing an extra £50,000 to £60,000 annually. These financial pressures have forced the school to restructure, prompting the strikes.
Stephanie Cobb, a mother of two South Grove pupils, said: "We're here because we love our teachers." Last Friday, parents and children took their protest to Walthamstow town hall, where two newly elected Green councillors listened to their concerns.
Lottie Gammon, another parent with two children at the school, commented: "When the strikes were announced it was a shock, as nothing like this had happened before and myself and my husband both have full-time jobs. I think the teachers have been very brave to take this action knowing it could be unpopular with families and leadership. They are standing up for our children and their school."
Divided Parental Reactions
However, not all parents support the strikes. Elsewhere in the borough, some have expressed concern about persistent industrial action. Pupils at Connaught recently held a counter-protest demanding an end to the strike, reflecting a divide in the community.
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, said industrial action in Waltham Forest mirrors a wider trend across London. He explained: "It's very easy to blame what's happening in Waltham Forest on overactive trade union reps, but it's not the case. The problem is, across London at the moment, we've got this perfect storm of record low birth rate [and] gentrification meaning that families can't afford to live in the city any more, which means pupil numbers are declining significantly."
According to NEU figures, 13 workplaces in Waltham Forest have voted for strike action in the current academic year. Across London, there have been 26 disputes over redundancies, restructures, and school closures. Nationally, successful NEU ballots for strike action have increased from 117 in the previous year to 171 so far in 2025-26.
Potential for National Strikes
The NEU is preparing for a formal national ballot this autumn, which could bring schools across England to a standstill, similar to the eight days of strike action in 2023. The union is demanding an above-inflation pay rise fully funded by the government. If ministers fail to deliver, Kebede is confident of resounding support for national industrial action.
Kebede said: "Strike action, including in Waltham Forest, is a last resort. It's not where anybody wants to be. But unfortunately, the crisis is so deep at the moment, we're often left with no alternative." He expressed despair at the Labour government's approach, saying: "I thought Labour would prioritise education. I grew up under 'education, education, education', and that's what I was hoping for, but unfortunately that's not been the reality."
He warned: "Unless the government invests in education, and unless they fully fund an above-inflation pay award, they are going to shift schools from financial crisis to financial collapse."
A Department for Education spokesperson described the NEU's approach as "extremely disappointing", adding: "Ultimately, it will be children, young people and hard-working parents who will pay the price for any industrial action."
