Industrial Action by the National Education Union (NEU) – arrangements for Wednesday 5th and Friday 7th July 2023
Dear Parents / Carers
You will be aware that the National Education Union (NEU) has announced the next strikes will take place on Wednesday 5th and Friday 7th July 2023.
Although the Trust has been formally notified by the trade union of their intention to strike, there is also the possibility that through ongoing negotiations we hope the strikes may not need to take place. As before, teachers are not compelled to inform their Headteacher of their plans to strike and staff not striking are not allowed to cover colleagues who are on strike. Therefore, for the purpose of the strike day lessons are suspended and there will be no remote learning.
Schools locally will have varying numbers of NEU members; as a result, the impact of the potential strike will differ from school to school. Special dispensation was given to teachers of Year 11 and 13 in the past, but this has not been applied to this situation this time around.
Arrangements for Wednesday 5th and Friday 7th July 2023
Following a risk assessment considering the safety of staff and students, our aim is to provide the following arrangements for the proposed strike day. The school will remain open to all staff not involved in industrial action.
Year 12
School will remain open as usual to students in Year 12 only who will attend their timetabled lessons where staff are not taking industrial action. We will be expecting some of these lessons to go ahead as normal and will expect full attendance from Year 12 students. There will be a minimal food service available in the canteen at break and lunchtimes for students and staff.
Years 7, 8, 9 and 10
All students in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 are to remain at home. Students in these year groups should carry on with the next timetabled lesson in their booklets, and complete Maths work on either Sparx Maths or Hegarty Maths.
Critical Workers - The school will also be open to those students whose parents/carers are critical workers. If you believe your child should be given a place under the critical worker criteria as outlined on page 22 of this document: Emergency planning and response for education, childcare, and children’s social care settings October 2022 (publishing.service.gov.uk) please contact the School Office by 3pm on Monday 3rd July.
Additionally, the school will contact families whose children may particularly benefit from studying in a routine, supervised and familiar environment.
As always, we will keep parents informed if any of these arrangements change.
Kind regards,
Mr M M J Devenney