Dear Parents
We have been informed by the teaching unions, NASUWT and NUT that they will be taking industrial action in the form of a strike on 1 October 2013.
This action is not against the school itself but is part of national industrial action organised by these trade unions about changes to the pensions schemes and the conditions of service of their members.
There is no requirement on unions to inform us of which members of staff will take action, and it may be that they will not know themselves as there is no obligation on members of unions to obey a strike call.
Neither the governing body nor the head is legally allowed to close the school ‘in sympathy’ with the strike and we will not do so. However, our main concern is the safety of our students. The school will only close if, in the opinion of the head, it is not safe to remain open. If it does remain open, it is unlikely that lessons will be normal and there may have to be sessions of private study. If action is prolonged, we will endeavour to protect the education of those on examination courses.
Because we may not know until very late how many staff will be available to work, the decision to close may have to be taken at the last minute. Every effort will be made to give notice at the latest by the day before; but in case the decision has to be made on the day itself, we are asking parents to nominate a place of safety, which may be your home, to which your child can go if we have to close.
We must all hope that the issues over which the industrial action has arisen are resolved as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely
Mr C Bodsworth
Chair of Governors