Industrial Action, 27 April and 2 May 2023
Dear Parents and Carers
Industrial Action, 27 April and 2 May 2023
As you know, the largest teachers’ union, the NEU, has added two additional days of industrial action to the school year: the 27 April and the 2 May. The school is extremely mindful of the impact that this can have on our students, and we have done all we can to remain open. As the majority of our teachers are in the NEU, I am left with no choice but to close the school to most students on these two days, as we cannot guarantee the children’s safety if the full student body are in.
Please take a moment to read the rest of this communication, as we do intend to offer some in-school provision:
- For families with childcare concerns, the school will offer places to Year 7 and Year 8 students. As has been the case previously, these children will be supervised in school, whilst they complete the same online work as their peers who remain at home. A reduced lunch offer will be in place, at the usual costs. They must attend at the normal school times and in full school uniform. If you wish for your child to come in on these two days, please complete this Link by Monday 24 April.
- Year 11 students:
- Unfortunately, two thirds of the Year 11s’ teachers on these two days are likely to be taking industrial action. However, the students all have plenty of revision materials and many of their teachers, even those in the NEU, will be setting work for them on the 27 April and 2 May. This has been agreed by the NEU.
- In order to encourage the Year 11s to work productively on these two days, the school will offer supervised classroom spaces for them in school. If you feel your child is likely to work with more focus in school on these two days, than at home, please complete this Link by Monday 24 April. It may be that your child in Year 11 is perfectly able to work at home, so please do have that discussion with them. A reduced lunch offer will be in place, at the usual costs. They must attend at the normal school times and in full school uniform.
- A small number of Year 11 students will still have their French speaking exams on the 2 May. They have been spoken to by their teacher about the specifics.
- Year 13 students are expected to come to school as normal. If their teachers are in school, the Year 13s will attend their normal lessons; if their teacher is on strike, they will be able to work independently, revising for their imminent public examinations, taking advantage of the school’s facilities. This decision has been taken because the Year 13s did not sit their GCSEs during the pandemic, so we need to benefit from as much in-school time with them as possible this term.
- All other students will be given plenty of opportunities for remote learning, the format of which they, and you, are now familiar. We urge them to spend around five hours on these tasks, and to include taking some exercise, as long as they have your permission to do so. Mr Peel will email you separately with the link to all of the students’ online learning opportunities.
We fully appreciate the inconvenience that this industrial action may have on our families, all of whom have been extremely supportive of the school’s difficult position. This is industrial action by teachers against the Government; it is not between us and our families.
With every good wish.
