Letter to Parents and Carers: Strike Action update

Dear Parents and Carers,

I am writing to give you an update about the strike action by some teaching staff and our ongoing talks with the teaching unions.

We know that the strikes have caused serious upset and disruptions to your child's learning. We are working very hard to stop this disruption and find a way forward. The government expects schools to operate a school week of no less than 32.5hrs. Our proposals are to ensure that your child receives this minimum entitlement so that they can maximise their educational opportunities - both academic and personal. We have done this in a way that is fully in keeping with teachers' pay and conditions. 

We have some good news to share first. We are very pleased to tell you that we have made good progress in our talks with the NASUWT union. After much discussion and changes to our plans, the NASUWT members have agreed that they will not go on strike this week in most of the schools where action was planned. This shows that both our Trust and the NASUWT union want to keep working together to find the best solutions for our students.

We are happy about this progress, as it shows what can happen when we talk things through and focus on what's best for your children, while also thinking about our teachers.

However, we are very disappointed that we have not made the same progress with the NEU union. We have offered them the same fair and sensible plans to try and solve this problem, but they have not felt able to accept them in the same way.

To help us move forward and find a solution, our Trust has now asked ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) to help. ACAS is an independent group that helps people solve disagreements. The NEU union has agreed to take part in these talks with ACAS. This clearly shows that talks are not broken down, and we all want to find a way forward.

Even though both sides have agreed to talk with ACAS, the NEU union has sadly said they will not stop the strike action while these discussions are happening. Our Trust is very disappointed by this. We had hoped the NEU would want to show they are keen to find a solution by pausing the strikes while ACAS helps us talk. So far, despite a number of demands being met, the NEU have repeatedly refused to even pause the strikes which would allow us to bring pupils fully back into school. 

We firmly believe that strikes should only happen as a very last choice, when talks have completely stopped. The fact that both sides are ready to talk with an independent group like ACAS shows that there is a real desire, from everyone, to keep talking and find a good outcome. We, therefore, cannot understand why the NEU has refused to pause their action. Their concerns have been listened to at every stage, and continue now to be listened to through ACAS. 

We continue to press them to enter a more constructive and co-operative space with us so that we can resolve this dispute. We have made significant compromises over the last year but both sides must compromise in the interests of children. Pausing the strike action would have indicated a willingness to compromise. 

We will keep doing our best to look after your child's education. We will let you know as soon as we have any more news.

Yours faithfully,

Principal

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