IMPORTANT TEACHER STRIKE INFORMATION

 

Dear Parents & Carers,

National Education Union Strike Action

 

You will be aware from media reports that the National Education Union (NEU) has recently balloted their members for strike action on 1 February 2023. The union is in a formal trade dispute with the Secretary of State for Education and they are seeking sufficient funds to allow employers to pay a fully-funded, above inflation pay rise.

St Mary’s has a number of teaching staff members who are in the NEU. Although staff do not need to inform us of their intention to strike, many have indicated that they do plan to strike on Wednesday. In addition, some staff not involved in industrial action may not be available for work due to the strikes impacting on their own families. Therefore, on the grounds of health and safety and safeguarding, the school will be closed to pupils in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10. Pupils in receipt of Free School Meals will be able to attend school between 12:45 – 1:15pm to receive their meal entitlement. Further details on this will follow.

Pupils in Year 11 will be expected in school, and will follow their usual timetable for the day. In the case of further staff absences, Year 11 pupils are asked to bring suitable revision materials for their timetabled lessons.

For those pupils in school, catering and bus services will be available as per usual.

Where our pastoral team have identified a pupil with specific requirements, they will contact families directly to ascertain if they require a place in school on the strike day. These pupils will be supervised, but not in lessons, on the day.

May I take this moment to state that this is a National Day of Strike action which will affect all schools differently. There are three other days of NEU strike action planned which may affect St Mary’s. These are Tuesday, 28 February (North-West only) and Wednesday, 15 and Thursday, 16 March (National Strike). It may be that on these days we take a different course of action to that of this week. I will, of course, keep you updated as soon as decisions are taken.

Many thanks for your understanding on this issue. We hope that the matter is resolved to everyone’s satisfaction sooner rather than later. If you have any queries in relation to the content of this letter or if there are any other associated issues on which you require clarification, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

Yours sincerely,

 

Mr P Thompson

Headteacher