Students join Lambeth walkout


James Ivens, Lambeth Socialist Party

Striking teachers at Lambeth College were backed up by some of their students walking out on 9 December.

The two-day stoppage took place during an Ofsted inspection – an unprecedented move for staff at the south London college. Inspectors have reportedly asked managers why they failed to resolve the dispute before the assessment.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) have been fighting severe attacks on pay and conditions. Teachers announced a programme of escalating action at the end of November.

The latest strike follows a one-day walkout the week before, with three days planned from 15 December.

Around 15 students of English as a Second or Other Language (Esol) joined pickets at the Brixton site. Esol is one of the FE college’s chief money-spinners, and strikers in the department have been particularly solid.

Please send messages of support to Mandy Brown, UCU branch secretary, at [email protected]