The reality of deportation

             "For the last year we have witnessed an increasing number of children being plucked from our school community to the bewilderment of staff and peers.
            The manner in which this process occurs is often insensitive, usually heavy-handed, and sometimes unnecessarily aggressive.

    We are writing as concerned Tottenham teachers with particular regard to the disturbing tendency in certain areas of the national press to demonise asylum seekers.

     At the school where we teach in North London we see daily the results of the Government's rush to meet deportation targets.

     The reality is frightened children and anxious parents and the gradual disintegration of family and community life in what is a culturally rich and diverse area.

     The reality is concerned children crying in class because they donít know whether their friends are going to turn up for school ever again. The distress this has caused has been impossible to calculate.

      For the last year we have witnessed an increasing number of children being plucked from our school community to the bewilderment of staff and peers. The manner in which this process occurs is often insensitive, usually heavy-handed, and sometimes unnecessarily aggressive. At present at least 8 pupils across Years 7--11 are under imminent threat of deportation. There is little clarity to this process. Once the letter arrives from the Home Office the families concerned often have no real idea when or to where they will deported. It could be next week, or it could be six months down the line. Indeed, we know of cases where families have had their belongings packed for as long as a year before any definite date has been given.

     For these families the future is a relative concept. For them it is impossible to make any medium or long-term plans. They daren't accumulate any personal belongings for fear of having to leave them behind when the vans come to take them and their possessions away.

     The Government has stated many times that fair education for all is a cornerstone of their political agenda. Education! Education! Education!Ç was one of the most memorable slogans from the 1997 election campaign. Yet, while government ministersÇ children have recourse to every possible advantage to assist them in achieving their qualifications and access to higher education, we are seeing increasing numbers deported without any consideration for the education they might be missing out on. Indeed, there have been cases at our school where we have seen children removed on the eve of their GCSEs after four or five yearsÇ of hard study. There are many others working towards their GCSEs unsure of whether they will be able to sit the actual exams because of the threat of deportation hanging over them. These children are a credit to us and the school we work in. Is this fair? We think not.

     In almost every case these children enrich our school immeasurably and have proved themselves keen to achieve to the best of their ability. We feel what is happening to them is a transgression of their basic human rights and that young people should be allowed to learn in peace and with a sense of security. Sadly this is definitely not the case in Tottenham schools at the moment.

     We urge the Government to stop these deportations now and to stand up to the right-wing dogma currently being peddled in all areas of the national media.

     Signed by the following of Northumberland Park Community School:

      Teachers: Carl Davies, Audrey Glover, Nuriye Mertcan, Peter White, V. Lebrasse, C.Patel, P. Molife, A. Adetoba, Isabeau Sloan, Cormac Fanning, Finola Byrne, O. Izuora, Elaine Yhip , Hemlata Rai, Pam Rogers, P.Punchard, John Innes, Philippa Greening, Nikki Farrington-Clarke, Yogesh Lyngoomiah, J.McNichol, K. Lambert, N.Jalal, A.Balabanis, G.Dwamena, R. Veerappa, Luc Ngotta, Hannah Golamgouse, M. Dean, Senior Yvonne Gidden, C. Trevillion, K. Gymiah, Maureen Krupski, A. Chowdhury.

     EMAG teachers: M.Gaylle, Kathryn Hinton, Hamiyet Asan, F. Korusoy.

     Admin workers: J Apparicio, S. Woodroffe, L.Mosey, A. Chopra.

     Librarians: Ian Powell, J. Nolan, Librarian

     Support Staff: Heather Johnson, P. Turpin-Gardner, Eleni Hambi.

     Senior Teachers: Diane Liversidge, L. Welds, C. Geohagen, Jude Latta.

     Jackie Thompson, Head of Year: Michael Dance, Head of English: M. A. Frizzel, Head of Art: Jeff Cole, Head of EMAG: Dave Cook, Head of P.E: Robin Gray, Head of Humanities: A. Woodcock, Deputy Head: A. Sloan, Head of Literacy: J. Wills-Fleming, I.T Technician: L.Ward, Head of Technology: M.Catsis, Head of Science: Harry Luchman, Head of Careers: D.Wills, Head of Learning Support: C. Cameron, Head of Year: T. Fisher, Youth Worker: Steve Latham, Head of Performance Arts: S. Bailey, Learning Support Teacher: Kenneth Tout, Technician: Colin Hinkson, Learning Mentor.

Northumberland Park Community School
Trulock Road
Tottenham
London
N17 OPG

Source for this page:Teachers: Carl Davies, Audrey Glover, Nuriye Mertcan, Peter White, V. Lebrasse, C.Patel, P. Molife, A. Adetoba, Isabeau Sloan, Cormac Fanning, Finola Byrne, O. Izuora, Elaine Yhip , Hemlata Rai, Pam Rogers, P.Punchard, John Innes, Philippa Greening, Nikki Farrington-Clarke, Yogesh Lyngoomiah, J.McNichol, K. Lambert, N.Jalal, A.Balabanis, G.Dwamena, R. Veerappa, Luc Ngotta, Hannah Golamgouse, M. Dean, Senior Yvonne Gidden, C. Trevillion, K. Gymiah, Maureen Krupski, A. Chowdhury.EMAG teachers: M.Gaylle, Kathryn Hinton, Hamiyet Asan, F. Korusoy.Admin workers: J Apparicio, S. Woodroffe, L.Mosey, A. Chopra.Librarians: Ian Powell, J. Nolan, LibrarianSupport Staff: Heather Johnson, P. Turpin-Gardner, Eleni Hambi.Senior Teachers: Diane Liversidge, L. Welds, C. Geohagen, Jude Latta.Jackie Thompson, Head of Year: Michael Dance, Head of English: M. A. Frizzel, Head of Art: Jeff Cole, Head of EMAG: Dave Cook, Head of P.E: Robin Gray, Head of Humanities: A. Woodcock, Deputy Head: A. Sloan, Head of Literacy: J. Wills-Fleming, I.T Technician: L.Ward, Head of Technology: M.Catsis, Head of Science: Harry Luchman, Head of Careers: D.Wills, Head of Learning Support: C. Cameron, Head of Year: T. Fisher, Youth Worker: Steve Latham, Head of Performance Arts: S. Bailey, Learning Support Teacher: Kenneth Tout, Technician: Colin Hinkson, Learning Mentor.

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