Wednesday 18th January 2023

Dear Families,

POTENTIAL INDUSTRIAL ACTION

You will no doubt have heard in the news that teachers who are members of the National Education Union (NEU) have voted in favour of strike action in connection with a national dispute with the Secretary of State for Education over teachers’ pay.

The days currently planned for strike action in our region are:

• Wednesday, 1st February 2023

• Thursday, 2nd March 2023

• Wednesday, 15th March 2023

• Thursday, 16th March 2023

The action may result in us not being able to open to some or all pupils on those days.

We are currently consulting union members to ascertain the likely impact on our school on those days and I will write to you again once I know more.

I appreciate that this industrial action could cause disruption to the learning of our children and young people and that families might have to make alternative arrangements for childcare during these days, should they not be able to attend school.

I am sorry for the inconvenience this may cause but this dispute is between teaching unions and the Secretary of State for Education. It is very much out of the school’s hands.

We will do our best to open if possible on those days, but it will have to be safe to do so in terms of staff and ratios for playground and lunch cover.

I thought, however, it would be helpful to let you know as early as possible that unfortunately it may not be possible to admit your child on those days, so that you have an opportunity to consider alternative arrangements should these be necessary.

I will write again closer to the time when we know a little more.