Parents save school prom hit by strike

30 June 2011 Last updated at 11:16 GMT Doncaster Council's chief executive said management would continue to meet with unions More than half of the schools in South Yorkshire have been closed or partially shut as staff strike in a national protest over pensions.

At least 366 of the county's schools have been hit and of those 193 were fully closed, council figures show.

As well as teaching unions, members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and Unison are striking.

In total, about 20,000 public sector workers in South Yorkshire are involved in the walkout.

In Doncaster, the strike threatened to disrupt the end-of-school prom for pupils at Ridgewood School until parents stepped in to save the day.

Year 11 pupils at the Scawsby school traditionally meet for celebrations at the school during the day before going to the prom at night.

Parents stepped in to save the event after it coincided with the industrial action.

Lynn Hall, a parent and governor at Ridgewood, said a group of parents had come together to organise the prom event "for the sake of the kids".

She said: "We found out at the end of last week that the school leavers' event was cancelled.

"We got our heads together and we said we've got sons affected and friends affected and we could see how gutted they were.

"This is not just for our sons and mates, it's for the entire 240 kids at the school.

"We knew there had to be an alternative."

Picket lines

Unison members working at Doncaster Council are also striking over job cuts and changes to terms and conditions.

Adult social education centres in Thorne, Conisbrough, Mexborough and Hayfield were due to be closed but the council said it did not expect disruption to any other services.

Rob Vincent, the council's chief executive, said: "I am disappointed with the outcome but we will continue to meet with unions and discuss the areas of proposed changes over which they have expressed concern."

Demos and picket lines are planned across the county including a rally at Barker's Pool in Sheffield and picket lines at job centres in Maltby and Rotherham.

Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield councils are updating lists of school closures on their websites.

Latest figure show 55 schools are closed in Barnsley with 14 partially closed.

In Doncaster 57 schools are closed with 18 partially shut.

In Rotherham 55 schools are closed with a further 41 partially closed.

And in Sheffield 26 schools are closed with another 98 partially shut.

Doncaster's Robin Hood Airport said it was not anticipating any problems.

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Gove strike letter angers heads

23 June 2011 Last updated at 15:34 GMT By Angela Harrison Education correspondent, BBC News The government is asking councils for information about the strikes Education Secretary Michael Gove has written to head teachers in England urging them to keep schools open wherever possible despite a strike by teachers next week.

Thousands of schools in England and Wales could close next Thursday when two teaching unions strike over plans to change their pensions.

Mr Gove's letter has angered head teachers.

But he says schools have a moral duty to parents and pupils to stay open.

And he sets out steps heads could take.

The letter says: "We all have a strong moral duty to pupils and parents to keep schools open and the government wants to help you to fulfil that.

"I am particularly concerned that school closures would cause great inconvenience to working families and single parents who will have to make ad hoc childcare arrangements and whose own working lives will be disrupted.

"I am confident that you will take effective steps to support schools in staying open and to minimise the impact on pupils and parents.

"I am aware that a number of our best school leaders are already putting in place contingency arrangements to ensure that their schools remain open."

'Unhelpful exhortations'

Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "School leaders are fully aware of their moral duty to pupils and their parents and of their responsibilities regarding decisions about the operation of their schools.

"This problem is, however, not of their making.

"The solution to this problem is for the government to avert this dispute by seeking an urgent resolution to the current impasse rather than sending unnecessary and unhelpful exhortations."

Continue reading the main story

The coalition's spending cuts are closing more services for children”

End Quote Russell Hobby National Association of Head Teachers Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "Heads don't need lectures in their moral duties. They've been keeping schools open their entire careers. And will make the right choices in the coming action.

"The coalition's spending cuts are closing more services for children."

In his letter, Mr Gove tells schools they might be able to stay open by being flexible in terms of the curriculum, the length of the school day, class sizes and who they get to take lessons.

His message comes as many schools are contacting parents to let them know whether their children's schools will be closed during the strike action.

Teachers in England and Wales who are members of the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers are taking the action next Thursday, alongside other public sector workers who are striking over pensions and cuts.

A big teachers' union which is not taking part in the action - the NASUWT - has written to Mr Gove saying he is "exhorting schools to exploit and disregard statutory contractural provisions".

The union's general secretary Chris Keates said Mr Gove's advice to heads was "reckless" and could bring schools in to dispute with staff who were not taking industrial action.

Final-salary schemes

Teachers say plans to change pensions will see them working longer and paying more for pensions which will be worth less than they had expected.

The National Association of Head Teachers last week announced its intention to ballot on industrial action over pensions, but any possible action would not now take place this term.

A review by Lord Hutton has recommended changing public-sector pensions from final-salary schemes to those based on the average salary earned in a career.

The government recently confirmed that the public-sector retirement age would be linked to the state pension age, which is due to rise to 66, and that contributions would rise, in line with Hutton's recommendations.

Ministers are expected to give a detailed response to the review by the autumn.

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Strike to hit Welsh schools

28 June 2011 Last updated at 14:51 GMT Almost 40,000 teachers and civil servants will strike in a dispute over pensions.

Nearly half of Wales' schools will be affected on Thursday if planned strike action by teachers goes ahead.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) have said they will take part in industrial action over pension changes.

Of approximately 1,880 schools in Wales nearly 400 have said they will be closed and around 440 partially closed.

The Welsh Government said it aimed to "minimise the impact" on its services.

UK Education Secretary Michael Gove has said the strike would harm the teaching profession's reputation.

With thousands of teachers expected to join in the action on Thursday, parents across Wales are having to reconsider their childcare arrangements.

Some areas look likely to be worst hit than others.

They include Newport where 43 schools are set to close or partially close, whereas in Ceredigion the authority said it had received no confirmation of any school's intention to take strike action.

More than 100 schools will be closed or partially closed in Cardiff with only 16 across the city saying they expect to be fully open.

In Pembrokeshire two schools out of 71 will fully close and 41 will be open but closed for some classes, while in Conwy around 38 will be affected. In Wrexham, nine of its schools are scheduled tol be closed or partially closed, with two open.

A list of councils and how they expect to be affected is here.

Continue reading the main story

ATL is renowned for its moderation. This is the first time in 127 years that we have gone on national strike”

End Quote Dr Philip Dixon ATL The walk outs across Wales and England are the unions' response to changes to public sector pensions.

Ministers and union leaders are holding talks in the run up to a planned strike.

Thousands of other public sector workers, including court workers and police support staff, will take co-ordinated strike action on Thursday.

Members of the PCS union will join teaching unions in a walkout over pay and pensions.

Dr Philip Dixon, director of ATL Cymru, said he had never seen such spontaneous anger from teachers before.

"Teachers are not doing this lightly," said Mr Dixon. "ATL is renowned for its moderation. This is the first time in 127 years that we have gone on national strike.

"That's an indication of how strongly our members feel about the proposals, and how angry they are that the government in Westminster will not enter into meaningful negotiations, that they just want to impose this onto teachers."

Dr Dixon said the union's members were particularly angry about the proposal that teachers work until they are 68.

"Teaching is a very demanding job, both physically and mentally," he said. "Do we really want children being taught by 68-year-olds?"

David Evans, secretary of NUT Cymru, said the union remained committed to try to have meaningful discussions with the UK government, and that the day of strike action was "the last resort".

He said: "No one wants to go on strike and we would happily call it off if the government wanted to play ball, but it seems to be their way or no way.

"There's clearly essential information they are withholding from us. Their refusal to budge on any issues is unfortunate.

"That's not the way government should operate when you are talking about so many thousands of public sector employees.

"It's almost as if they want the strike action, but that's not in anybody's interests."

Continue reading the main story

Pensions are not a devolved matter and our focus is on minimising the impact of any industrial action on our public services”

End Quote Welsh Government Teaching unions not striking on Thursday have issued their members with legal advice on the strike.

Anna Brychan, director of NAHT Cymru, said: "We have made our members aware that the decision on whether to keep their school open or not will depend on a health and safety risk assessment on the day.

"We would also expect employees to make every reasonable attempt to cross the picket line."

Ms Brychan added that NAHT Cymru would be balloting for strike action "probably in the autumn".

"We do have significant concerns about current pension proposals and their impact on recruiting," she said.

Though not taking part itslef, Wales-based education UCAC said it supported the strike action.

Elaine Edwards, UCAC's general secretary said: "We're one hundred per cent behind this strike. The viciousness of the Government's attacks on public sector pensions is entirely uncalled-for.

"The government's proposals will mean a severe and immediate pay cut for staff, and will see teachers and lecturers struggling to make ends meet in their retirement."

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "Most public sector workforce groups in Wales are covered by UK or England and Wales pay arrangements.

"This includes the civil service, the NHS, teachers, other local government, higher education and further education staff.

"As such, pensions are not a devolved matter and our focus is on minimising the impact of any industrial action on our public services."

Prime Minister David Cameron is due to make another call for public sector workers to call off Thursday's strike over pensions later.

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PM's plea to workers over strike

28 June 2011 Last updated at 16:26 GMT Cameron: "It is the changes we propose that are right, right by the taxpayer but, above all, right by you."

David Cameron has told public sector workers unhappy about their pensions that striking would be "wrong - for you, for the people you serve, for the good of the country".

The PM said reform was "essential" to stop the pensions system "going broke".

And, he added, the changes were fair to both workers and the taxpayer.

Up to 750,000 teachers and civil servants are set to strike saying that the government's plans will mean them working longer and paying more.

There was no breakthrough in talks between ministers and unions on Monday. Labour leader Ed Miliband has said strike action would be a "mistake".

'Good deal'

The government has insisted it has contingency plans in place to prevent any major disruption to essential services on Thursday but Education Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed that more than 3,000 schools in England and Wales will be forced to shut and over 2,000 partially closed as a result.

Continue reading the main story Iain Watson Political correspondent, BBC News

David Cameron's speech was an exercise in myth-busting, pointing out that some lower paid workers would be better off, not worse off, as a result of the proposed changes.

And that some measures were driven by our increasing longevity as a nation not short term debt.

Above all, the prime minister used the words "fair" and "fairness" prolifically.

He knows his words won't avert Thursday's strike action but he is attempting to drive a wedge between what he sees as "reasonable" and "unreasonable" unions, and between "unreasonable" union leaders and what he regards as their misinformed membership.

He's been criticised as more of a salesman than a strategist by his opponents.

But it's perhaps those sales skills the prime minister will need when telling public sector staff that working longer and contributing more to the cost of their pensions is fair.

The planned 24-hour walkout involves members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), the University and College Union and the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union.

The UK Border Agency has said the PCS walkout will affect its staff working at points of entry into the UK and, while it had put contingency plans in place, "people travelling into the UK may experience delays at border control".

It said the strike would have a "different" impact at individual airports, ports and railway stations.

Speaking to the Local Government Association conference, Mr Cameron urged workers to reconsider their actions and not to believe what he said were "scare stories" about the government's proposals.

"To those considering strike action, when discussions are ongoing, I say to you these strikes are wrong, for you, for the people you serve and for the good of the country. It is the changes we propose that are right, right by the taxpayer but, above all, right by you."

He added: "The changes we propose are a good deal. They are fair for the low-paid, fair for the taxpayer. They secure affordable pensions, not just now but for decades to come. And they mean that public sector pensions will remain among the very best available."

Given workers were living longer in retirement, it was right that they should contribute more to their pensions and that the pension age should rise.

"The reason we can't go on as we are is because as the baby boomers retire, the pension system is in danger of going broke," he said.

'Nonsense'

Union leaders have said there are still major divisions between unions and the government over three key proposals - to raise the pension age, to increase workers' contributions and to link pension values to the generally lower consumer prices index (CPI) rather than the retail prices index (RPI).

"On the key issues where we are taking strike action, the government has said it won't negotiate," Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, told Radio 4's PM.

She said Mr Cameron's speech contained "half-truths and misrepresentations" and that a deal agreed in 2007 would ensure a ?57bn reduction in public sector pension liabilities over the next 50 years.

"The notion that public sector pensions will go broke is nonsense. He should not have said it."

Labour leader Ed Miliband said both sides should get back round the negotiating table since public sector pensions did need to be reformed.

"We are on the side of parents and children. That is why I say these strikes would be a mistake," he said.

The strikes "should not be going ahead as they will inconvenience parents and children", he argued.

He added: "Public sector pensions do need to be reformed. But the government has to take its share of responsibility for the provocative way they have handled these negotiations."

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Strike to hit over 5,000 schools

28 June 2011 Last updated at 16:20 GMT By Katherine Sellgren BBC News education reporter Education Secretary Michael Gove: "Strike will cause a massive inconvenience to hard-working families"

More than 3,000 schools in England and Wales will be closed and some 2,200 partially closed on Thursday when two teaching unions stage strike action.

Education Secretary Michael Gove, who announced the figures, said the strike action, over pension changes, was regrettable, unnecessary and premature.

He was responding to an urgent Commons question by his shadow, Andy Burnham.

Action is being taken by members of the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.

They say the changes will mean they will have to work longer, pay more and get less when they retire.

Mr Gove told the Commons the strike would cause "massive inconvenience to hard-working families" and would hit working women particularly hard.

"This strike, at this time will not help our schools," he said.

He said his department had established that 3,206 schools would be closed and 2,206 would be partially closed on Thursday.

In total 84 academies would be shut and 128 partially closed.

Mr Gove said when the figures were collated on Monday, the situation with another 10,872 schools was "not at that stage known".

Further updates would be released on Wednesday and on Thursday.

He said: "In order to minimise the impact of this strike on working parents I wrote last week to all local authorities, as the employers of teachers, and to all schools, emphasising their duty to keep schools open wherever possible.

"In response to requests from governors, I also laid out the flexibilities at the disposal of schools to ensure that they stayed open.

"Schools can vary staff/pupil ratios, they can depart from the national curriculum and they can draw on voluntary support from the wider community, with those who have been CRB-checked able to provide particular help.

Ballots

"Nothing can replace the great teaching offered by gifted professionals, but I would far rather see schools stayed open and offered a restricted curriculum than see hard-working families have to lose a day's pay themselves or have to pay for ad hoc and expensive last-minute childcare."

Mr Burnham said: "On Thursday children should be at school, their parents at work.

"On this side we have said consistently that these strikes are a mistake."

But he said he the government could not "evade its share of the responsibility for the disruption".

About 220,000 NUT members were balloted over the pensions changes. Around nine out of 10 (92%) of those who voted, backed the strike action with a turnout of 40%

Just over half of the ATL's members were eligible to vote - the rest are not members of the pension scheme.

Some 83% of its eligible members who voted backed the strike action - on a turn-out of 35%.

The Girls' School Association, which represents independent girls' schools, said some of its schools had ATL members who would be taking action.

But a spokewoman said schools would remain open as usual.

"We're not aware of any schools that are closing. All schools seem to be making reasonable adjustments to keep the schools open," she said.

Civil servants are also staging strikes over pension changes.

Prime Minister David Cameron has urged them to call the action off.

View the original article here

Heads warned on strike volunteers

27 June 2011 Last updated at 15:15 GMT Mr Gove has urged head teachers to try to keep schools open The National Association of Head Teachers has "strongly advised" heads against the use of parent volunteers to cover for striking staff on Thursday.

Education Secretary Michael Gove has backed the idea of parents helping to keep schools open in England and Wales.

But NAHT head Russell Hobby said using them instead of trained staff placed an intolerable burden of responsibility on head teachers if something went wrong.

The government said heads should look at all the options open to them.

Mr Gove has written to schools urging them to "consider the full range of local resources available to them, both from within the school staff and the wider school community to ensure that wherever possible they remain open".

Asked on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday whether he was suggesting that parents should go in to take lessons on Thursday, he said: "Well, parents going in to help, certainly."

'Accountable'

Many parents help regularly in schools with activities such as reading, school trips or sports days.

Those who do so frequently, or who work unsupervised with children, must have had a criminal record check.

Continue reading the main story

I haven't noticed schools being reluctant to call upon parents' help when they take children on outings”

End Quote Katy Ivens Campaign for Real Education However, for infrequent volunteering, CRB checks are not required, but the volunteer must never work without supervision by a qualified member of staff.

But Mr Hobby said that even for those with the correct documentation, there were issues such as confidentiality, first aid training, safe use of equipment, behaviour management, knowledge of restraint procedures, guidance on physical contact with pupils and insurance liability to be considered.

"Head teachers are accountable for the welfare of their pupils, and to accept volunteers in place of trained staff - no matter how willing and able - would place them under an almost intolerable burden of responsibility should something go wrong," he said.

'Common sense'

Mary Bousted of the Association for Teachers and Lecturers said using parent volunteers to help non-striking teachers "was a recipe for chaos".

Parents affected by the teachers strike talk to the BBC

"It's very rich of the secretary of state to talk about teaching being a professional job, a very skilled job, and then to say anybody can come in and babymind.

"It's completely different looking after your own child or two or three children, and looking after 30 15-year-olds - or 50 15-year-olds," she said.

"In that situation, things can happen which could be deeply distressing for those parents who come in with the best intentions."

But Katy Ivens, vice-chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: "To suggest that parents are irresponsible people and not suitable people to care for children... is a bit of a joke."

She said that, for a few hours on one day, if the head teacher was present and taking responsibility, and some teachers were present, "common sense would dictate" that even parents who had not had CRB checks "could and should" help out.

"I haven't noticed schools being reluctant to call upon parents' help when they take children on outings," she said.

'Hide behind bureacracy'

And Keely Watson, 32, a mother of four from Rochford, Essex, said she would in principle be the first to volunteer to help non-striking teachers supervise children, although she is not available to help on Thursday.

"I am absolutely disgusted that it would come to that, but I would do it," she said.

Striking was holding people to ransom and also not giving children a good message, she said.

But she added that schools would be likely to "hide behind bureaucracy" such as the requirement for CRB checks, and reject parent volunteer help, as "it's in their best interests for the school to close for maximum effect".

Siobhan Freegard, co-founder of the Netmums social networking website, said many of its members were concerned about the idea of someone they did not know, who was not qualified, looking after their children.

Many parents were willing to help out on with school activities "but it's always in support of the teacher, as opposed to instead of the teacher", she said.

"Teachers do more than just mind the kids - they have structures, systems, lesson plans - fundamentally this is just a silly idea that could never work in practice."

'Moral duty'

But she said members were ambivalent about the strike itself.

"We want teachers to have a fair deal, but nobody really supports militancy," she said.

While some parents did not want to undermine the teachers' strike, she said, "most mums work in poorly paid jobs where they don't have an option to strike".

"There's a general feeling that it's us and our kids who pay," she said.

A spokesman for the Department for Education said Mr Gove's letter last week was "very clear that heads have a strong moral duty to pupils and parents to keep open, by drawing on all staff and the wider school community".

"Parents expect that all heads should look at all the options open to them and make the right calls so that children are safe at school, their education does not suffer;,and families are not inconvenienced."

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University staff strike over cuts

22 June 2011 Last updated at 14:33 GMT London Met attracts many low-income and ethnic minority students Staff at a north London university are protesting over a decision to cut two thirds of its courses.

Picket lines were set up outside London Metropolitan University's buildings by Unison and University and College Union (UCU) members.

UCU spokesman Cliff Snaith said the courses being cut was "extremely depressing and demoralising to current students and staff".

The university said it was "disappointed" by the strike.

Dozens of members from the two unions protested outside university buildings on Holloway Road and Highbury Fields in north London.

'Difficult period'

Lectures and exams at the university have finished for the academic year but a meeting of the board of governors was being held on Wednesday.

"We want a university where we are not dictated to by a management that appears to be following another agenda," Mr Snaith said.

"Students have been forced onto courses they weren't expecting to take.

"We demand genuine consultation with regard to the future of all aspects of delivery including courses, research and student support services."

A London Metropolitan University spokeswoman said: "London Metropolitan University is disappointed that members of its recognised trades unions, UCU and Unison are today taking one day strike action.

"We understand that this is a difficult period for staff at London Met but industrial action is not the answer.

"A formal governors disputes panel was set up and attended by senior management.

"Senior management have also met with the concerned parties to maintain a dialogue."

Courses in subjects including performing arts, history, Caribbean studies and philosophy are being cut by the university.

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Heads to vote over pension strike

17 June 2011 Last updated at 17:10 GMT If head teachers vote to strike, a walk-out is likely in the autumn Head teachers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are to be balloted on potential strike action over reductions to their pensions package.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said it was balloting its members over the cuts with "great reluctance".

It comes after two teaching unions joined lecturers in backing a strike on on June 30.

The government said a strike would damage children's learning.

Negotiations window

NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby said: "With great reluctance, faced with threats and a refusal to negotiate from the government, we feel we have no option but to demonstrate our anger at his attack on the teaching profession.

"Like everyone else, teachers have paid the price for the recession in taxes and pay cuts. They are now also being taxed to pay for the mistakes of others.

"We fear for the future of a system with a demoralised and devalued profession. We fear that we will not be able to attract people to become heads at a time when targets and workloads are rising."

For procedural reasons even if heads back the strike NAHT members will not be joining teachers on the picket lines on June 30.

The union represents 28,000 school leaders.

Mr Hobby added: "In planning the timing of this ballot, we feel that we have created a proper window for negotiations to continue and, hopefully, prevent the need for action."

'Hardly surprising'

If NAHT members support the ballot, the union anticipates a walk-out in the autumn.

A spokesman for the Department for Education said: "The government is committed to working openly and constructively with unions to ensure that teachers continue to receive high quality pensions, and that the interests of all professionals are represented fully as pension reform is taken forward.

"Lord Hutton [who carried out a review of public sector pensions] has made it clear that there needs to be a balance between a common framework for all schemes and the need for flexibility to take account of specific workforce circumstances, such as those of the teaching workforce.

"But we are clear that a strike by teachers will only damage pupils' learning and inconvenience their busy working parents. The well-being and safety of pupils must remain paramount."

The NAHT decision comes as Treasury minister Danny Alexander confirmed the public sector retirement age would be linked to the state pension age, which is due to rise to 66, and that contributions will rise.

The government is expected later this year to give a detailed response to the review by Lord Hutton, which recommended changing public sector pensions to career average rather than final salary schemes.

However, the ATL teachers' union says that in January - before the Hutton report was published - the government wrote to it saying it intended to raise teachers' contributions from 6.4% to 9.8% of their salaries.

And the measure used to calculate how teachers' pensions increase to allow for inflation was changed in April 2011 from the Retail Price Index (RPI) to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is usually lower.

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers - which announced ballot results earlier this week in favour of a strike - said it was clear the government had no intention of negotiating openly and seriously on pensions.

"It would appear they have already decided the changes they wish to make to public sector pensions regardless of the consequences or the facts.

"Given this position it is hardly surprising that some unions feel they have no other option than to ballot for strike action."

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'Bad pupils' school strike ends

17 June 2011 Last updated at 12:41 GMT Interim head John Lawson said people were smiling again at the school Teachers who went on strike over pupil behaviour at a school in Lancashire have agreed to end their dispute.

An interim head teacher was appointed at Darwen Vale High School after staff walked out complaining of lack of support in tackling problem pupils.

Now with the previous disciplinary policy reintroduced, unions have called off the threat of future strikes.

Unions the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and NASUWT both said they were pleased the dispute had ended.

About 70 teachers took part in the strike at the 1,100-pupil school in Holden Fold, Darwen, during a one-day walkout on 7 April.

Strict implementation

Unions claimed pupils had physically and verbally abused staff and filmed lessons on mobile phones and threatened to post them online.

The previous disciplinary policy - now back - includes tougher controls on the use of mobile phones and a committee to review procedures.

Members of teaching unions held a strike in April

Blackburn with Darwen Council said the "strict implementation" of the policy was going well.

John Girdley, of the NASUWT, said: "It's good news that the unrest of recent weeks has been resolved and we welcome the stability that the new interim head teachers have brought to the school during what has been a difficult time.

Blackburn with Darwen's NUT representative, Simon Jones, added: "We are delighted with the progress that has been made and are pleased to declare a formal end to this dispute."

Interim head John Lawson was appointed when head teacher Hilary Torpey was suspended after the strike.

He said: "The young people at Darwen Vale are very special and we are confident that there is a bright future for the school.

"We have smiles all round at the school."

View the original article here

Teachers’ strike set for 30 June

15 June 2011 Last updated at 15:20 GMT Teachers say the planned pension changes will hit their pockets hard Teachers' unions in England and Wales which voted for strike action to protect their pensions have confirmed a co-ordinated walk-out on 30 June.

The strike by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) will disrupt thousands of schools.

ATL president, Andy Brown, announced the union's first national strike with "deep reluctance".

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude accused unions of "jumping the gun".

Following the ballot result on Tuesday backing strike action, the leaderships of the two unions confirmed plans for a one-day strike this month.

'Ride roughshod'

The teachers' unions are campaigning against changes to their pensions which they say will mean working longer, paying more and getting less when they retire.

NUT leader Christine Blower said that "teachers do not take strike action lightly" but accused the government of trying to "ride roughshod over them" in changes to their pensions.

The date set for the strike, the ATL president Andy Brown says, has been picked to "avoid external exams and important school and college events so that any strike causes as little disruption as possible to children's education".

"We do not want to strike, but unless we take a stand now the government will irreparably damage education in this country and children will lose out."

The other main classroom union, the NASUWT, has not held a strike ballot.

But the ATL's deputy general secretary, Martin Johnson, claimed that the strike would affect the "vast majority" of state schools in England and Wales.

It could also affect some independent schools, as many of their staff are members of the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

ATL would be sending out letters today and tomorrow to inform local authorities and school governors of the strike plan, he said, after which it would be down to individual schools to decide how they planned to respond and inform parents.

"Whether a school is completely closed or partly closed will depend entirely on the propotion of the staff who are members of the striking unions," he said.

'Disruptive'

Mr Maude accused the unions of announcing a strike before waiting for the outcome of negotiations.

"Any union or any public servant contemplating strike action at the moment is really jumping the gun. There's a long way to go on this yet."

"I am sorry that a handful of unions are hell-bent on pursuing disruptive industrial action while those discussions are still continuing," he said.

About 220,000 NUT members were balloted over the pensions changes. Around nine out of 10 (92%) of those who voted, backed the strike action with a turnout of 40%

And just over half of the ATL's members were eligible to vote - the rest are not members of the pension scheme.

Some 83% of the ATL members of those who voted backed the strike action - on a turn-out of 35%.

A spokesman for the Department for Education said the government was committed to working openly and constructively with unions.

But he added: "We are clear that a strike by teachers will only damage pupils' learning and inconvenience their busy working parents. The well-being and safety of pupils must remain paramount."

View the original article here

Teachers strike on academy plans

13 May 2011 Last updated at 07:59 GMT Staff at two Coventry schools are on strike over plans to turn their institutions into academies.

Tile Hill Wood and The Woodlands School are both closed to pupils.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) said the strike was in protest at a decision to consult to change from maintained schools to academies.

A spokesman said the change posed a threat to the terms and conditions of employment. The Woodlands said its application would not be withdrawn.

'Financial freedom'

While Peter Wall, chairman of the governors at Tile Hill Wood School, said the consultation had been extensive.

Neil Charlton, head teacher at the Woodlands, said: "One of the primary considerations for this school is the financial imperative and because of that I do not intend to withdraw my application under any circumstances."

He said there were a number of reasons for schools to become academies.

He added: "The critical one for this school is the financial freedom by being funded directly from the government as opposed to via the authority.

"We would find ourselves several hundred thousand pounds better off in a year. That's the most significant factor in our decision to apply for academy status."

Academies have greater control over their budgets and can set their own pay and conditions for staff.

Jane Nellist, joint secretary of the Coventry Association of the NUT, said members were unhappy about the plans.

Pay and conditions

She said: "Our members are very angry about the way they are being treated by governors.

"The consultation has been virtually non-existent and some of the claims that are being made are totally distorted, especially around extra money.

"If these changes take place, our members' pay and conditions will be under threat as governors have failed to give any guarantees."

Picket lines were set up at 0730 BST at both schools.

In a letter to staff at Tile Hill Wood, Mr Wall said: "In our view, governors and the school leadership group have been more open and inclusive in communicating and consulting about the academy process than many other schools in the city.

"We have listened carefully to all of the feedback and comments that we received. This was extensive and covered a wide range of topics."

He added: "We have made it clear throughout the process that we have absolutely no intention of changing terms and conditions to the detriment of staff, now or in the future."

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