School protest duo could face charges (From Haringey Independent)

School protest duo could face charges

9:35am Friday 26th September 2008 in News By Elizabeth Pears

Members of a Tottenham faith school’s PTA could face criminal charges after they allegedly breached an injunction banning them from the premises.

Ms Njeri Yebieman, whose child attends John Loughborough School, and Brother Mbandaka, an ‘adviser’ to the parents and teachers association, were involved in a protest at the Seventh Day Adventist school on February 25.

The demonstration was sparked by fears headteacher June Alexis was about to lose her job, however Haringey Council claimed it caused serious disruption to lessons.

On March 12, the council served an injunction on Ms Yebieman and Mr Mbandaka banning them from entering the school in Holcombe Road.

But on May 20 and May 21 the duo allegedly breached the terms of the injunction, by visiting the school to hand over documents to Ofsted inspectors.

The council began civil proceedings in June and the pair appeared at Central London County Court last Friday.

If found guilty of breaching the order, the case will be passed to a magistrates court and if found guilty, Ms Yebieman and Mr Mbandaka could face up to two years in prison, as well as a hefty fine.

They would also have to cover court costs — estimated to run into thousands of pounds.

A statement released by the PTA said: “We find the council extremely autocratic with no regard for our parental rights and believe our school’s Seventh Day Adventist ethos and its African-Caribbean profile are significant factors in this aggressive, disdainful approach.

“These committal proceedings are an attempt to silence the perspective of the PTA.”

In court, Ms Yebieman and Mr Mbandaka asked for the charges to be dismissed, claiming they had been allowed into the school by associate headteacher Oveta McGuinness.

Mrs McGuinness was employed by the council, alongside an Interim Executive Board (IEB) in September 2007, to revive the failing school after a damning Ofsted report.

Headteacher June Alexis was suspended after the protest in February, for allowing protesters access.

Pastor Sam Davis, chairman of the IEB, said: “We are working hard to improve standards and ensure pupils at the school get the good education they deserve.

“The vast majority of parents support our efforts. In the interests of their children’s futures we will continue to take action to prevent anyone disrupting our work.”

A second hearing will take place on October 31, if mediation sessions between the parties fail.