David Miller outside Montem Primary School where he has been the caretaker for more than 30 years

A SCHOOL caretaker was told he would be evicted from his home of more than three decades after a controversial merger has led to his post being “deleted”.

David Miller has been the on-site premises manager at Montem Primary School in Finsbury Park for the past 31 years.

He has worked under five headteachers and has watched generations of children pass through the school’s doors.

“I love the job,” Mr Miller told the Tribune.

“I’ve looked after the school 24/7… I’ve been loyal to the school.”

But his future – and his home – was thrown into doubt after Islington Council made the decision to merge Montem with neighbouring primary school Duncombe.

Mr Miller said he has been made redundant and given just two months’ notice to move out of the four-bed home that was a part of the residential manager job he has held since 1994.

The veteran caretaker received a letter in mid-June informing him that he would need to move out by noon on August 31.

Last night (Thursday), the council responded to our enquiries by saying that Mr Miller would not have to leave until he received an offer of an alternative property.

But the caretaker said his life had been turned upside down by the original letter from Islington.

“It’s a disgusting letter,” Mr Miller said. “I’ve got two daughters, they were born here, they grew up here, they went to school here. This is my family home. My brother passed away a little while ago, he used to come here, we used to have parties, this is my home. It’s my everything. I’ve been crying and getting emotional because I’m getting thrown out.

“I feel like they’re making me homeless and jobless. What do I do?”

Mr Miller added: “They’re not even telling me what they’re doing with the building. I said ‘why can’t I stay here?’ because this is staying educational for another two years.

“So I said ‘why can’t I stay here and run the site?’ but they want that [the house].”

It is expected that the Montem school building will remain in educational use, but the council has not said what its plans are for the caretaker’s house

The long-serving caretaker appealed his redundancy, arguing that he should be given the post at Duncombe since the premises management service is currently provided by an agency.

But he was told the decision stands as the use of a contractor provides greater flexibility for the council and is more cost-effective.

Samuel Hadfield, Mr Miller’s long-time friend, said there was outrage at the decision.

He said: “It’s like he’s done something wrong. He hasn’t done anything wrong, What he has done wrong is give you 31 years service. And that’s how you treat people?”

Schools chief Councillor Michelline Safi-Ngongo said: “We apologise for the uncertainty that this situation has caused Mr Miller and we can guarantee that he will not be evicted from the property without a permanent offer of alternative accommodation being made to him.

“We will continue to speak to Mr Miller, and we have reached out to Mr Miller to reassure him of this commitment.”

She added: “Until now we have been working with Mr Miller and offering him a range of support services throughout this process.”