Staff at Fortismere School in Tetherdown, Muswell Hill, held six days of industrial action over an increase in class sizes from 27 to 30 and cuts to time for marking and lesson planning.
They claim headteachers Jo Davey and Zoe Judge failed to negotiate with National Education Union (NEU) members, depriving pupils of six days of vital learning.
Sara Hall, a mother of two Fortismere students, said: “After years of austerity we all understand that state schools are under huge financial pressure and that there are no easy choices left.
“This is why it is essential that headteachers work constructively and creatively together with their teaching staff to find the least worst solution for everyone.
“At Fortismere this has not happened, resulting in strikes and huge disruption for parents, teachers and pupils.
“It is our children who suffer most from this failure of the grown ups in charge.”
Ana Bellver, who has two children in years 11 and 8, said parents were “deeply disappointed”.
Anna, who works in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sector, contrasted this with Gladesmore Community School in Tottenham, where a strike was called off after last-minute progress.
She said: “It is unacceptable that our teachers are forced to bear the brunt of systemic
inadequacies. Our schools deserve better. Our teachers deserve better.
“It is time for the local authority and the government to step up and provide the necessary support to ensure our educators are fairly compensated and our children receive the quality education they deserve.”
Ms Davey and Ms Judge said in a joint statement that they were “deeply disappointed that we are all in this position”.
They said that the current position is “unacceptable” but and are urgently trying to find a solution, with two meetings planned to resolve the situation.
They said they were responding to “significant” funding challenges and tryng to balance this with providing the best possible education for students and staff workload.
The heads said the crux of the dispute was the increase of class sizes in three out of seven year groups, and a series of talks on how to mitigate workload impacts have been rejected.
They said schools are funded on a formula predicated on 30 students in a class group and on teachers delivering lessons for 90% of teaching contact time.
They added: “Our offer of 84% is therefore well below the national limit. We acknowledge that for our staff this does equate to extra work so we are in favour of finding ways to offset this.”
The school is funded by Haringey Council. Cllr Zena Brabazon, cabinet member for children, schools and families, said: “We regret that the unions have now called for strike action to take place across a number of days that will have a major impact on the learning of our young people.
“We will continue to facilitate talks between the schools and union and remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached.”
