Ark Globe Academy: Pay Your School Cleaners the London Living Wage!

Migrant cleaners at Ark Globe Academy in South London, employed by contractor Atlas Cleaning Limited, are fighting to defend the full London Living Wage (LLW) they won in 2020 after it was suddenly withdrawn. They are also demanding of underpaid wages caused by repeated payroll errors.

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To: Tina Alexandrou, Chair of Ark Schools Board Lucy Heller, CEO of Ark Academy Matt Jones, Principle of Ark Globe Academy Ed Bolton, Managing Director Atlas Cleaning

Dear  Tina Alexandrou, Chair of Ark Schools Board, Lucy Heller, CEO of Ark Academy, Matt Jones, Principle of Ark Globe Academy, Ed Bolton, Managing Director Atlas Cleaning I am writing to express my deep concern that the migrant cleaners at Ark Globe Academy, employed by Atlas Cleaning Limited, are being paid below the London Living Wage and are experiencing repeated payroll errors. These cleaners fought to secure the London Living Wage in 2020. Yet, in 2026, that commitment has been abruptly withdrawn, leaving many struggling to make ends meet. These workers play an essential role in the safety, cleanliness, and day-to-day functioning of the school. Despite their contribution, many are facing financial hardship during an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, receiving poverty pay and uncertainty about their wages. The cleaners have exhausted all internal channels in their attempts to resolve these issues, but the problems persist, causing real hardship for them and their families. Publicly available accounts show that Ark's Chief Executive, Lucy Heller, received annual remuneration of £216,300, while the school's outsourced cleaners earn just £14.27 per hour. This stark contrast raises serious questions about fairness and the value placed on the workers who help keep the school running every day. Both Ark Globe Academy and Atlas Cleaning Limited have a responsibility to treat all workers with dignity, respect, and fairness. Anything less is inconsistent with the values that Ark publicly promotes—fairness, opportunity, and social justice. Social justice begins with the people who keep your school running every day. I urge you to act without delay: restore the London Living Wage for the cleaners, rectify all payroll issues immediately, and demonstrate to staff, students, and the wider community that fairness, respect, and dignity at work are more than just words. Yours sincerely,

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