Keep it Park !

Park staff to Strike on Wednesday ?

2009-12-14T03:10:00.000-08:00

Members of the National Union of Teachers and the NASUWT union will take strike action at Park College on Wednesday 16th December, in an ongoing dispute over changes to pay and conditions.

Dave Brinson, Division Secretary for the NUT said:-

"This dispute is not demanding any sort of pay rise- it is simply members wishing to keep the pay and conditions they already have. As qualified and skilled teachers, my members belive it is fair that they continue to be employed on nationally recognised Teachers' Contracts.

"We have been in negotiations with the college for nearly six months since suspending strike action in the summer, but members are frustrated at the lack of any significant progress. It is with great regret that we have taken the decision to resume action."

NUT members, representing the majority of Park College staff, have been in dispute for more than a year over issues at Park. An online petition to Prime Minister Gordon Brown received over 700 signatures, and nearly 200 people attended a public meeting at Eastbourne Town Hall in May, where speakers included Stephen Lloyd of the Lib Dems, and musician David Ford.

Senior officials of the NUT are met Principal John Blake and college managers on Friday 11th December. We understand that certain proposals are being considered , that could lead to the action on Wednesday being suspended.

Dave Brinson was optimistic that progress could be made: "No teacher takes strike action lightly, but we have been left feeling that there really is no alternative at the moment."

Gordon Says....

2009-12-07T05:30:00.000-08:00

The petition signed by 771 people urging the Prime Minister to intervene to keep Park College as a distinct sixth form college with teachers paid on nationally recognised sixth-form teachers' contracts has now closed.

The Prime Minister's (rather disappointing, but predictable) response is:-

"Further education colleges are key to ensuring that every local community has a resource at its heart, charged with delivering high quality opportunities to learners and employers. Further education colleges are independent bodies. As a result it is the college governing body, in this case Sussex Downs College, which is responsible for matters relating to the current and future direction of the institution. This includes responsibility for making decisions about the operation of the college’s sites, such as Park College Eastbourne and all matters relating to the employment of staff including pay, terms and conditions. Such autonomy is important if we are to have a strong further education sector. It would therefore be inappropriate for Ministers to intervene.
We would however, expect a college to ensure opportunities for high-quality learning are maintained and the particular needs of all students continue to be addressed"

Talks: "Productive"

2009-06-03T07:28:00.000-07:00

Following last term's solid strike action by NUT and NASUWT members at Park, a meeting was held earlier this week between regional officials of the two unions, and representatives of the Sussex Downs College management. These talks were described by the unions as "productive."

More information will follow in due course.

Solidarity

2009-06-03T07:21:00.001-07:00

The dispute at Park has generated much interest across the country. Below are just a few messages of solidarity and support from colleagues across the country:

“Please could you pass on my message of support to teachers at Park College. The management at Park should be supporting their staff and supporting education not seeking to attack teachers. It's really good that you are fighting back against this. If your management get away with it - then others will try” Kevin Courtney, Camden NUT and Executive Member

"Please pass on my solidarity to the members involved." Simon Jones, NUT Executive

"Please pass on a message of support from myself and the Barking and Dagenham Division of the NUT to the Park College teachers taking strike action." Dominic Byrne, Barking and Dagenham NUT and Executive Member

"What a shameful attack from a foolish Board - I hope they live to feelshame. Say no to expeditious and immoral initiatives and campaign forcommon sense. Take ye not the road to, for example Harlow and SouthendColleges! Fight, fight and fight again to save to contracts we need. Wishing you good fortune and fortitude in your struggle." Jack Davies - City and Islington Sixth Form Colege.

"I'd like to send you a message of support from Barnsley NUT. If you are facing trying times then you will need determination and courage. I'm sure you have it in abundance." Roy Bowser Barnsley NUT President

"Please pass on a message of support from myself and Lewisham NUT:

DON’T UNDERMINE STAFF
DON’T UNDERMINE STUDENTS
DON’T UNDERMINE EDUCATION
Keep it Park!" Martin Powell-Davies, Lewisham NUT

"On behalf of everyone at Birmingham NUT, I would like to send a message of support to the teachers at Park College, and to wish them every success with their campaign."
Netta Ford, Birmingham NUT

"Please sent the members of the NUT & NASUWT my greetings and support fortheir stand against the damaging and unnecessary changes proposed to ParkCollege. We must continue to stand up for what we know to be right!! Thosein power must listen to the community made up of students, parents andteachers. Together we can be strong!" Gill Goodswen, National Vice President, NUT

"All the best in your fight." Jeff Bates, Westminster NUT

"Sutton NUT sends a message to NUT and NASUWT members at Park College in support of their action on pay. We appreciate your stand on behalf of all school teachers." Kate Daly, Sutton NUT.

"Please pass support to striking members at Park College from Redbridge NUT. This one they can definately win!!" Stuart McConnell, Redbridge NUT

What Can I Do ?

2009-05-20T10:17:00.001-07:00

By popular demand, the action list for those who want to help the campaign, that was given out at our public meeting:

Sign the petition to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, by clicking here. We already have more than 300 signatures !
If you are on Facebook- click here to join the support group. Over 450 have !
Write to Sussex Downs Corporation members, via the clerk, Richard Coombs, at Sussex Downs Campus at Cross Levels Way, Eastbourne, BN21 2UF. There is a list of members in the post below !
Write or e-mail your local MP (even if you are a student, parent or concerned person who lives outside Eastbourne, but in the area reasonably served by the college, your local MP should respond to your concern.)
Write to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls MP, at DCSF, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BT.
Wear the badge, and talk to your friends, family, neighbours about your wish to keep Park College as a dedicated Sixth Form “brand” within Sussex Downs.

Accountability ?

2009-05-20T09:47:00.002-07:00

In answer to a number of parents and students who asked questions about the accountability at SDC- in particular, who the Governors were and how they could be contacted- we publish the following list of the SDC Governing Body ("the Corporation")

DICK HOLSTE: Chair of the corporation, a former senior manager in the banking industry. Director of Sussex County Cricket Club.

DR CHRIS DUCKLING: Vice chair. Engineer and MD of the company Many Oaks Consultancy Ltd.

DAN BARRATT OBE: Retired former director of Llewellyns. President of the Eastbourne Conservative Party.

JOHN CRAWFORD: Chief Executive of Lewes District Council

FIONA CURRIE: Chartered Accountant for Price and Company.

TONY FEEK: Retired army officer. Formerly clerk to the East Sussex Lietenancy. Also a governor of Whitehawk Primary school.

SALLY GAUSDEN: Chartered Accountant at Perkins Copeland.

PEGGY HALL: Solicitor: Partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter.

BRIAN HIGGINS: Retired Sales and Marketing manager. Former Conservative Group leader on Eastbourne Borough Council.

IAN JUNGIUS: Headteacher of Willingdon Community School since 1993.

NATASHA KEELEY: Student member from the Eastbourne Campuses.

BENJI LAMB: Student member from the Lewes Campus.

AMANDA LIVINGSTONE: Support Staff governor

MO LAN MARKEY: Trustee Board member of Sompriti, a charitable organisation.

GRAHAM MARSDEN: Retired teacher, Conservative Councillor on Eastbourne Borough Council (former Mayor and Leader of the Council)

KIERAN MCNAMARA: Senior officer (Head of Strategic Economic Development and Europe) at East Sussex County Council

HOWARD MEDWAY: Teaching staff representative.

NICOLA SMITH: Principal lecturer at Brighton University.

MARIAN TREW: Former university lecturer, also at the University of Brighton.

and... of course...

DR JOHN BLAKE: Principal and Chief Executive of Sussex Downs College.

All governors can be contacted via the clerk to the Governors, who is Mr Richard Coombs, and is based at the Eastbourne campus.

NUT and NASUWT Action: Solid

2009-05-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

Once again, teachers were prepared to take action in defence of their terms and conditions, and to demonstrate their determination to keep Park as a centre of Sixth Form excellence. Members of the NUT and NASUWT mounted a solid strike, with pickets covering all entrances to the college. A number of students and parents also gave their support to the action- pictured, and hundreds of leaflets were taken.

A big THANK YOU to all of those motorists who hooted their support !

A big THANK YOU to all of you who took leaflets !

A big THANK YOU to the people of Eastbourne who are standing with us in this campaign.

Eastbourne speaks !

2009-05-19T11:33:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to the 180+ people who joined us at Eastbourne Town Hall last night for a very positive public meeting about the situation at Park College. It was particularly pleasing to hear such eloquent and passionate comments from the "floor" with contributions from students, parents, local councillors and other members of the public.

NUT and NASUWT members will be taking a further day of strike action tomorrow, in support of the fair deal that the public so clearly support- and to keep Park as a place of excellence.

Have your Say !

2009-05-12T06:11:00.000-07:00

There will be an open meeting about the ongoing dispute at Park College this MONDAY (18th May) at Eastbourne Town Hall, starting at 7.30 pm

It will be an opportunity to hear from teachers' representatives and others in the community. Most importantly, it will be a chance for people in the town to ask questions, and to have their say.

The guest speakers will be:

DAVE BRINSON (East Sussex NUT- and former Park Student President, 1995-6)
STEPHEN LLOYD (Local Liberal Democrat campaigner)
ERIC SKYTE (National Executive Member, NASUWT)
DAVID FORD (Musician, and former Park College student)
We are also hoping to have a speaker from the Sussex Downs' branch of the lecturers' union UCU.

The meeting will be organised to allow maximum opportunity for contributions and questions from the floor. Please come along, listen, have your say and show your support !

Rudderless Ship?

2009-05-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

Our contacts at Park tell us of more strange goings on down on Kings Drive. Mr Tim Whitmore, the new captain of the good ship Park is so soundly engaged with the smooth delivery of the much vaunted reconfiguration plan that he has... gone on holiday!

Yes, clearly smoking gun evidence that Mr Blake's plans really were written on the back of an envelope at the 11th hour. Afterall, with such a complex and well crafted policy to be worked out within the next few weeks, which we are told will take Park to the next plateau of educational excellance, it doesn't seem likely that Mr W would have booked leave? Does it?Unless he had no idea when he booked his leave that changes were afoot.

"Insulting" Letter to Park Parents

2009-05-08T10:01:00.000-07:00

The National Union of Teachers, which represents the majority of teachers at Park College, has reacted with anger to a letter sent by Sussex Downs Principal, John Blake, to parents of all students at the college, in which he suggests staff are finding it “difficult to adjust”, and accuses them of “influencing” the recent student disquiet.

Dave Brinson, secretary of East Sussex NUT said:

“This letter is an insult to the professionalism of my members, and an insult to the intelligence of the young adult students. It implies that my members are seeking to stir up student discontent, which is an outrageous and totally untrue suggestion. The plain fact is that students are bright enough to make their own judgements about the recent events at Park, including the downgrading of teachers’ status and conditions, and the treatment of the highly experienced and respected former Head of College, Mike Dixon.”

“John Blake's letter also maligns the record and reputation of the formerly independent Park College, by insinuating that the college was failing before he heroically rode in to rescue it. The truth is that Park was a highly successful Sixth Form college, in the top 25 of its kind in Britain, and praised by OfSTED. The circumstances of the Sussex Downs takeover owe more to the virulent marketisation of the post-16 sector, and empire building by further education colleges, than any concern about quality, standards or results.”

“While the letter talks about ‘strengthening’ Park College, we learn that new teaching posts are being advertised on an hourly paid, variable hours basis. Is this really the way to recruit and retain the best teachers for our local young people ?"

"We agree wholeheartedly with the concept of stregthening Park College- which is already a centreof excellence- but the SDC management's actions need to match their rhetoric."

Taking it to the Top

2009-05-07T12:47:00.000-07:00

The Keep it Park Campaign now has an online petition at the Number 10 Downing Street website. If we get over 200 signatures, then we are guaranteed a response from the Prime Minister's office (what that response will be, we wait to find out, of course.)

To add your signature, please click HERE

A Crisis of Leadership

2009-05-03T04:26:00.000-07:00

Mr Blake's response to his crisis of leadership, which includes you will remember dear readers, sacking the popular and well respected Mike Dixon, has been to send parents a letter. Yes, a letter, a letter that like the mighty tablets that Moses brought down from the mountain, were supposed to contain the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Unfortunately the master of spin himself, has being spinning if not reeling in the last week or so. Firstly, the BBC report on last week's South East Today, tells us there will be a merging of Park and EVOC from September. Then he is quoted in the Herald on Friday, saying that Park is not going to be merged with EVOC. The BBC report also mentions redundancies, which don't feature in his letter to parents. Me thinks he speaks with forked tongue?

The letter of course is covered in more logos and badges than you can imagine. For example, the logo for Investors in People sits prominently on the page, suggesting that Mr B does have a fondness for irony after all. The letter is a work of some genius, the contortions Mr B goes through would certainly get him a job in a circus. Lets take the explanation for change of leader to start with. Apparently, the quality' which drew Mr B to give the job to poor Mr Whitmore was that he'd been at the college since he was 11! No wonder the sorrowful looking Mr W looks like he's just been given detention.

The letter also libels Park students and staff by suggesting that a minority of disaffected teachers have somehow incited a handful of students to action. This is wrong at so many levels that one wonders if Mr B even believes it himself? Did he watch TV last Wednesday evening? The solid action by NUT and NASUWT staff clearly shows that after years of frustration virtually all teachers at Park have had enough. The assumption that students are being manipulated by Svengali-like educationalists is likely to provoke mirth amongst students and staff, and is an insult to the intelligence and integrity of both parties. As usual it tells you more about Mr B's worldview than anything else. He is so used to complete obedience from his staff that the idea that people might think for themselves is clearly beyond him.

The most audacious passage for the scribes here at Keep it Park though, has to be the stunning attempt to portray Park College has a dismal, failing institution, until the glory of Mr B's regime change rescued it from despair and destruction. The truth could not be more disobliging for Mr B.

The fact is, Park was at its most successful in the period immediately before the take-over by SDC. It had received a fantastic OFSTED report, was in the top 25 sixth form colleges in the country for results and had been mentioned highly favourably in his final report that year, by the then chief inspector Mr David Bell. Go look for it on Google, I'm sure you will find it. The fact of the matter is that Park was successful but needed more investment and funding from central government. The merger was built on the lie that Park was somehow failing.

Of course since then, the tremendous efforts of all Park staff have managed to paper over the cracks created by Mr B's scorched earth policy. The problem for Mr B is that he wants to run education as a business, and thinks that a sixth form college should endlessly grow like a business. But I wonder if the current banking crisis could teach us something about how the push for continued growth is not sustainable and leads to the kind of collapse we saw with the pyramid sales-like scams that the banks perpetuated. Could it be that Mr B is interested in growth because continued growth allows him to justify an ever inflated salary from the governors ? Senior figures in the public sector are obsessed with telling us that they must be paid the going rate, to be competitive with the private sector. Mr B uses just this justification for his bloated pay award in his recent BBC appearance. Strangely, his argument exactly echoes that of the sixth form teachers - 'pay us the nationally agreed going rate, nothing more nothing less'. Once again, perhaps we have misjudged Mr B, here at Keep It Park. Perhaps he has a more finely tuned sense of irony than we give him credit for. Or perhaps he just doesn't care. We'll let you decide.

The saddest truth, is that had Park not been sold down the river by the LSC, the government and some of the then Park governors (there were honourable exceptions we are told), Eastbourne would still have its own independent sixth form college. Perhaps it is time it had again.

Paranoid Park Part Two

2009-05-03T04:08:00.000-07:00

Some of our more eagle-eyed correspondents at Park, tell us that the good Mr Blake's secret agents were out and about again last week. When student protests erupted last Wednesday and the BBC turned up to film, it would appear that one of Mr B's little helpers was also doing a bit of filming on her mobile telephone. Of course we will not name and shame her, as that would be unsporting and ungallant, but she is now the good Mr B's right hand maiden in the newly reconfigured college strategy team, we understand. For what purpose she was filming we do not know, however, such intimadatory tactics towards students and staff, tells you all you need to know about the current senior management.

Headless Chicken Management Style

2009-04-29T03:59:00.000-07:00

Taken from article in the Eastbourne Gazette: 29.4.09

...Dave Brinson, secretary of East Sussex NUT, added, "NUT members, who are in dispute about plans to move them away from nationally-agreed teachers' contracts, have reacted angrily to developments at Park College, which have included the removal of the head of college Mike Dixon and announcements that courses are to be 'reconfigured' between the Park and EVoC sites."

"The removal of Mike Dixon, a hugely respected leader, has caused shock and dismay among my members."

"This, coupled with the management's announcement it is 'reconfiguring' courses between Park College and the EVoC site, seems to confirm our worst fears about the end of Park College as a distinct sixth form provider for the young people of Eastbourne.

"Hasty announcements, memos being circulated midweek, and senior staff being told to clear their desk with seemingly no warning does not suggest a well-thought- out strategic view for education in our town, rather a headless-chicken style of management at Sussex Downs College."

"Park College has delivered excellent academic results for many years, based on its identity as a distinct and recognised sixth form college. Parents value it, students value it, staff value it. It seems that the only people who don't are the Sussex Downs management."

You can read the full article by Annemarie Field, including contributions from NASUWT and the feeble response from the college, at the Herald and Gazette website here

Taking it to Westminster

2009-04-28T14:07:00.000-07:00

Contact your MP and the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to tell them that you want to save Park College.

http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/commons/l/

Use the above link to email both Ed Balls the Education Minister and your own local MP. There are find MP by postcode or surname options.

Put in your own postcode or MP surname to find your own MP, and click the search button. Click on the email link and send a message using the screen that then appears, if you want to send the same message to both, take a copy before you send. Use the back button and go back to the first screen, input ‘Balls’ in the surname field to find Ed Balls the Minister for education and then again click on the email link and again send your message.

Are academic diplomas 'a lame duck'?

2009-04-27T14:12:00.000-07:00

Many of the recent changes have been justified with reference to 'academic' Diplomas. However these proposed alternatives to A-levels may never get off the ground. Michael Gove, Shadow Secretary for State for Children, Schools and Families sees no role for the "so-called academic Diplomas". He said: "There are a number of worrying indications that the examinations are not as rigorous as we would like them to be – for example much of the assessment will not be externally monitored effectively." He considers the three "academic" diplomas in humanities, languages and science – due to be launched in 2011 – "a mistake and a wrong turning".

Only yesterday all the main exam boards urged the government "in the strongest terms" to delay the introduction of these diplomas in England. They said they feared the planned start in 2011 would harm the development of assessment and standards.

We are sure our local MP agrees that prioritising 'gold-standard' A-levels over diplomas at Park is a priority.

Don't Be Paranoid - They Are Out to Get You!

2009-04-26T13:56:00.000-07:00

Our contacts at Park are hinting that SDC management are engaged in the 'dark arts'. No this is nothing to do with paganism or witchcraft I'm afraid, but is slightly more serious if its true.

We are reliably informed that Park Students who support the reinstatement of recently sacked Head Of College, Mike Dixon, and who also appear to be taking their role of citizenship seriously by organising facebook protests against the destruction of Park, are being targeted by SDC managers by being 'invited' to rather sinister 'one to one' chats. It has also been suggested that SDC are actively getting their IT folks to infiltrate facebook groups to gather intelligence on students and even staff. It kind of reminds you of the activities of state security services in the old Eastern bloc don't it? I wonder what the Information Commissioner would make of that? Well for any student facing the wrath of Mr B my advice is get yourself a good lawyer. Or better still get your ma and pa to get one.

Quality Counts - Unless you want to be a doctor!

2009-04-26T13:33:00.000-07:00

More disturbing news from our contacts in Park College. As SDC managers and compliant Chair of Governers, Dick Holste, proudly state in recent Herald articles, success at Park continues to go up, up, up. Your correspondent wonders why then, the highly respected and successful science department is being run down? Surely not you say? But some strange facts suggest that SDC are preparing to kill off the kind of provision that is vital for budding doctors, dentists and engineers of the future.

Dr S B, the highly succesful head of chemistry at Park is retiring in the summer. His dedication over the years has been appreciated by generations of Eastbourne's parents and students. But SDC in their infinate wisdom will not be replacing the venerable Dr B with another highly qualified candidate. No, both he and Mr C T, another full time member of the biology department also retiring in the summer, will be replaced by variable hours contract staff. Yes thats right, part-time, short contract lecturers.

With no head of chemistry, and replacements being along the lines of McJobs, we are sure the college will save lots of money. I wonder who will get that money? But I also wonder what parents will do if they want their children to have a high quality science education in Eastbourne. Answers on a postcard c/o Mr J Blake.

A Shameful Act

2009-04-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

The removal of Mike Dixon, the popular and respected Head of College at Park, is the latest shameful act of harrassment and intimidation of Park staff by the management. Our contacts tell us that staff and students are angry at this clumsy attempt by Mr Blake to silence his critics and destroy Park College.

It would appear the Herald's recent front page story, on the double standards and hypocrisy of excessive executive pay and perks at SDC, was the real reason that Mike Dixon was forced out.

Some Striking Thoughts #2

2009-04-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

And so the strike day itself? Some impressions...

John Blake drove through the picketing throng and gave a sheepish grin and a hint of a royal wave. As well he might, because his 'strike day car' was a humble Mini! Presumably this was in the hope that it would make him look either inconspicuous or less of a fat cat. Afterall there is something rather sweet and humble about the Mini, so you can see the PR spin he was trying to create in case the press were snapping away. Unfortunately, we are led to believe his other, more usual car is, yes you guessed it, a Jaguar! Not so humble, but perhaps a more realistic view of the bonus culture we have come to expect. Nice try John, but you are not fooling anyone.

Some Striking Thoughts #1

2009-04-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

After the first significant strike action at Park College for over 20 years its time to reflect on the day itself and the reasons why its happening now.

As all staff at Park agree, no one really wants to take strike action, but there is no doubting a groundswell of anger and frustration amongst staff against a senior management culture which is completely disdainful of the Sixth Form college, its staff and students. This dispute has been a long time in the making, but its seeds were planted when the LSC, Sussex Downs College and the government cooked up a scheme which gifted Park to SDC five years ago. At one stroke, local democracy, partnerships with schools and freedom of choice for the parents of Eastbourne was discarded. Bold promises and warm words were all staff got at the time. The reality of the so called merger has been a continued attack on the principles of Sixth Form education and the people who deliver them, ever since.

Now teachers at Park have had enough. The people of Eastbourne deserve to know the truth about the systematic attack on the town's Sixth Form College. We hope to bring you that truth, bit by bit. Keep reading! Keep it Park!

Great Letter in the Eastbourne Herald

2009-04-06T06:03:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Eastbourne resident and former Park College student Andy James, for his letter in Friday's Eastbourne Herald. Andy sums up the various strands of the Park College teachers' case, and the fears for the long term future of choice in post-16 education in Eastbourne.

You can read Andy's letter in full at the Eastbourne Herald website here.

Lloyd Supports Teachers

2009-03-31T04:55:00.001-07:00

Park College campaigners received a welcome boost, with a message of support from Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman Stephen Lloyd.

Mr Lloyd told the Eastbourne Herald he was 'disappointed the two sides couldn't resolve the issue without strike action.'

"However, I do want to make it very clear that I support the teachers at Park College on this issue," he said."We were promised when Sussex Downs took over Park College that A-level academic standards would not drop. Since then, a number of parents and teachers have contacted me expressing their concerns. It is vital, therefore, that no cuts are made under the smokescreen of the economic downturn." (source: Eastbourne Herald 27.3.09)

Mr Lloyd's intervention clearly rattled the senior management of Sussex Downs College- stating in the same issue of the paper that they would be:

"contacting Mr Lloyd so that a meeting can be arranged to ... discuss any issues he would like to raise. We are, frankly, disappointed that he did not raise these issues directly with us in advance of making his statement." (ibid)

We understand that such a meeting has already been arranged between Mr Lloyd and principal John Blake. Isn't it curious that John Blake can arrange a meeting with a local politician within days of a statement being made, but such is his lack of interest in the concerns of his own staff, that he has not once agreed to meet with union representatives with a view to resolving this dispute.

Park Teachers Strike: Solid

2009-03-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

Teachers at Park took a day of strike action on Tuesday 24th March, in defence of nationally agreed Sixth Form Teachers pay and contracts.

Despite laughable statements before the strike by college management that the college would be open as normal, most classes were cancelled, and students were told to "go to the library or go home." Only a handful of staff went in, including half a dozen members of the NASUWT teachers union, which is also in dispute with the college, and is also to ballot its members at Park about taking strike action to defend their jobs.

We were pleased at the huge support we received from the public, who are horrified at the idea that those who teach their children A-level and other post-16 courses would be paid less than the teachers who took them through school. The people of Eastbourne value Park College as a centre of excellence, and will resist any attempts to downgrade it's status as a high quality Sixth Form provider.

NUT Members to take Strike Action

2009-03-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

Staff at the Park College section of Sussex Downs College in Eastbourne will be taking strike action on Tuesday 24th March in defence of nationally agreed contracts for Sixth Form Teachers. NUT members overwhelmingly voted for action after months of negotiation around plans to move the former Sixth Form College staff away from Sixth Form College Forum-agreed terms towards lecturer contracts.

Dave Brinson, NUT Division Secretary for East Sussex, and a member of the NUT national executive said:

“This is a highly skilled and established staff, who are responsible for the reputation for excellence built up through the life of the former Park College, and Eastbourne Sixth Form College before that. They feel that attempts to downgrade their contracts are a slap in the face for that service: which for a number of staff amounts to more than 20 years dedication.”

“Staff are told that their contracts will be ‘protected’ but management proposals have already included a proposed freeze (a cut by any other name !) on the top grade of payment for the most experienced and skilled staff. In addition, members are angry that new and future staff will be appointed on lower-paid lecturer contracts. My members are not prepared to sit idly by and take a ‘pull the ladder up, Jack’ attitude to the pay and prospects of future, often younger, colleagues.”

When the former Park College was subsumed into Sussex Downs- giving that organisation an effective monopoly on post-16 provision for the parents and students of Eastbourne- we were assured that they were committed to retaining the environment, ethos and reputation for excellence of the college as a distinct ‘Learning Brand’ within the institution. However, while they want the skill and judgement of Sixth Form teachers, they appear unwilling to repay that with recognised Sixth Form pay and conditions.”

Staff elsewhere in Sussex Downs College have also had concerns over what they see as the unwillingness of the college management to fully implement the nationally agreed terms of lecturer contracts, and members of the UCU union took strike action last month. While this is a separate dispute, NUT members have considerable sympathy with their sister union.

“Post-16 education has been the poor relation of the service for far too long,” agreed Mr Brinson. “We want these publicly-funded organisations to make rapid movement towards a level of parity with fellow professionals in schools and school sixth forms. This is even more critical now that the 14-19 agenda is blurring traditional divisions. We support the claim by lecturer colleagues in the institution for a fair deal. We believe that genuine equality should be pursued by the harmonisation of conditions upwards, rather than retrograde cuts to our members.”

The build up to the dispute...

2009-03-22T10:53:00.000-07:00

The following article was published in the East Sussex NUT newsletter NutShells back in the Autumn Term of 2008. As you will see, this is a dispute that has been bubbling for some time:

NUT colleagues and representatives from the other teaching unions are joining together to fight the increasingly hostile terms and conditions being imposed on teachers at Park College.

Following the merger of Park College, with Sussex Downs College (SDC) in 2003, many members had high hopes of a positive future. They were encouraged in this view by the management of SDC, the Learning and Skills Council and consultants brought in by central government.

Five years later, the reality of the take-over of Park College for our members is becoming apparent. Cuts in administrative support staff, and centralisation of many services have increased workload and stress for members. Management at SDC are for the second time in five years, bringing new staff into Park College on Association of Colleges based contracts in a clear attempt to undermine the pay and conditions of sixth form teachers. With our UCU colleagues the NUT has strongly argued that Further Education staff on AOC contracts should have parity of pay with those on sixth form pay and conditions across the college.

Further to this, a new timetable has been imposed on Park College, with no consultation, which has extended the college day to 5pm and introduced a 25 minute lunch break. Lessons are shorter, with students losing an hour of tuition per subject per month. Colleagues are already beginning to feel the increased pressures and stress this has caused. These changes come on top of an ongoing dispute with SDC management about their desire to impose unannounced lesson observations on colleagues during the quality cycle.

However, the strong sense of community Park College has always had, means members are actively fighting these proposals and are gearing up to ballot for industrial action. Creating exhausted, badly paid and demotivated staff does not put students first, but does undermine the long standing trust and partnership with local schools, parents and the community at large. We would ask any colleagues who live and work in Eastbourne or the surrounding area to support our struggle to keep Park College as a strong, community sixth form college.