Teachers at Harris Beckenham in south London will strike for two days following complaints of unfair treatment, severe overwork, and underpayment of Jamaican teachers. The National Education Union reported that many Jamaican staff members have been underpaid by thousands and subjected to bullying and excessive monitoring. The Harris Federation, which operates the academy, has denied allegations of racism but is criticized for not addressing pay disparities. A former Jamaican teacher described the stress and trauma of being fired while pregnant, reflecting the negative impact of management practices.
One teacher who was fired from the school described how she was let go just months before she was due to have a baby. The former teacher, who is Jamaican, said: "What they did to me was cruel. I was five months pregnant when they let me go and most of the things they said weren't even true. I wanted to challenge it legally but the whole process was traumatising and I feared the stress would affect my baby."
Jamaican teachers at the academy in Beckenham have also complained about unnecessary scrutiny and bullying, with their teaching closely monitored and many facing excessive lesson observations.
We are constantly criticised and set up to fail, another Jamaican teacher explained. They set us targets but the goalposts are always moving.
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