Following on from the letter sent by the Girls Learning Trust regarding industrial action, you will be aware that the National Education Union (NEU) has announced some proposed strike days for our area with the first due to take place on Wednesday 1 February.

Further potential days of industrial action are:

• Thurs 2nd March (London and the South West and South East of England)
• Wed 15th March (nationally)
• Thurs 16th March (nationally)

Although the Trust has been formally notified by trade union of their intention to strike, there is also the possibility that through ongoing negotiations the strikes may not take place.

This dispute is between the government and teachers and concerns the funding of schools, the erosion of educators’ pay and the subsequent difficulties this causes for recruitment, especially in shortage subjects. The current pay deals for staff have not been fully funded by the government and were agreed by the government after schools had set their budgets, leaving schools to have to cut back on other areas that benefit students.

We are conscious that school closures inconvenience parents/carers and disrupt learners’ education and so I am writing to give you as much notice as possible so that you can make arrangements if school is not open for your
daughter’s year group on a proposed strike day. As such, it is vital that parents plan for alternative childcare where necessary. Different arrangements may need to be made for any further strike days.

Teachers are not compelled to inform their Headteacher on 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; therefore, the impact of the potential strike will differ from school to school.

Our aim is to provide clarity about arrangements for the first proposed strike day on Wednesday 1 February. Details about future strike days will follow.

Arrangements for Wednesday 1 February

In terms of arrangements for 1 February, following a risk assessment considering the safety of staff and students, the school will remain open to all staff not involved in industrial action. It will remain open to students in Year 11 who will be expected in school as well as those whose parents/carers are critical workers. Additionally, the school will contact families whose children may particularly benefit from studying in a routine, supervised and familiar environment.

All other students are to remain at home.

Year 11 students

Year 11 students are expected in school and will have a bespoke curriculum for that day, including completing the Intermediate Maths Challenge under exam conditions which was already scheduled on the day (they will need a
rubber, pencil and clear water bottle). Timings for the school day will be as normal.

They will need to arrive by 8.25am as normal and in full school uniform.

They will need to arrive by 8.25am as normal and in full school uniform.

There will be a food service available in the canteen at break and lunchtimes for students and staff.

As always, we will keep parents informed if any of these arrangements change.