Sixth-form tutors who are involved in a pay dispute with the government

STAFF at a sixth-form college say they are outraged at a restructure plan that would see mental health counsellors lose their jobs and threaten working conditions for teachers.

Their concerns come a week after NEU members at Capital City College announced plans to strike following its CEO Angela Joyce’s refusal to grant them a nationally agreed pay rise. Now teachers are anxious that restructure proposals are just the beginning, and say the leadership is “damaging our college”.

Pippa Dowswell, the joint secretary of Islington NEU, said: “It’s just completely crazy. They’re being run like multi-national corporations instead of schools, which is what they are.

“They lose sight of the fact that this is about young people who we are educating in our classrooms.”

She added: “She’s getting rid of our counsellors. The argument is that we’re going to have a mental health and wellbeing team, but the job descriptions are coming with a salary that is significantly less.”

The plans, seen by the Tribune, indicate that the staff structures “require updating to ensure they are aligned to the new one-college model”, and cite a need to “rectify inconsistencies in re­sources and staffing structures across the centres, including roles that are unique to some centres”.

But Ms Dowswell said: “This is a gross levelling down when we have a mental health crisis among our young people. The Angel site, we’re the only place that has fully qualified counsellors. The argument is that no one else has them, so you shouldn’t have them.”

According to Islington NEU, those at risk of redundancy include the first black woman to become a counsellor, who has worked at the college for 27 years.

UCU members at the campus in Camden Road, who will also be affected by the restructure plans, are also campaigning against the changes.

One union representative – who did not wish to be named – said: “I think the trend in further education is always cutting services and cutting jobs and our CEO is carrying on with exactly this trend that has been going on since 2008. It doesn’t help students, the college, or the staff working in the college. It’s counter-productive.

“It takes a toll for those who stay behind and the student experience.”

A spokesperson for CCCG said: “The proposed changes to the student service team will increase the number of staff focusing on student wellbeing and mental health.

“Our student wellbeing and mental health advisers are all experienced and trained in providing mental health first aid and will work with other professionals to refer students as appropriate.

“This approach has worked well at all other CCC campuses and we are confident this increase in our dedicated mental health staff will ensure we can provide the best quality of care and sup­port for our learners.”

Legal challenge delays strike ballot

NEU members have been told they must reballot for strike action after a legal challenge has been levelled against the wording of the vote. NEU members must now vote once more on whether to take strike action. They anticipate this won’t be until May at the earliest.

A spokesperson for CCCG said: “After challenging the validity of the recent ballot for industrial action and raising concerns regarding prior unprotected action, the NEU agreed to withdraw the most recent ballot for strike action.

“We remain hopeful that we can now focus our efforts in resolving the dispute with the NEU amicably, without them resorting to industrial action. Nevertheless, we have robust strike contingency plans in place, and our efforts will go into making sure any future potential strike action does not affect exams or learning.”