National Education Union members in fourteen Outwood Grange Academy (OGAT) secondary schools across the country will continue to take strike action throughout July. The dispute is over an increase to workload created by the proposed extension to the school day.
Ongoing talks are in place to find a resolution. ACAS talks have also been scheduled for 10 July. However, until such time as a clear picture emerges of how workload will be reduced members are not willing to stop the action.
Dates for action are 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16 and 17 July.
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"NEU teacher members at OGAT have not taken industrial action lightly. They have continued to support children with additional classes for exam revision. While no teacher wants to be taking strike action any move that leads to an increase in teacher workload is clearly unacceptable.
"Most teachers leave the profession before their fourth year of teaching. Excessive workload and pay are the main causes, leading to stress and burnout. In this context, OGAT’s proposal to extend the school day, and therefore increasing teacher and support staff workload, shows a serious lack of judgement and understanding of the day-to-day pressures which teachers are facing.
"The Trust must listen to its workforce and resolve this dispute to ensure teacher workload does not escalate, for the benefit of both school staff and the children they teach."
Editor's Note
Outwood Academy City, Sheffield
Outwood Academy Danum, Doncaster
Outwood Academy Easingwold, North Yorks
Outwood Academy Foxhills, North Lincolnshire
Outwood Academy Freeston, Wakefield
Outwood Academy Grange, Wakefield
Outwood Academy Hemsworth, Wakefield
Outwood Academy Shafton, Barnsley
Outwood Academy Hindley, Wigan
Outwood Academy, Kirkby, Notts
Outwood Academy, Newbold, Derbyshire
Outwood Academy, Portland, Notts
Outwood Academy, Redcar, Redcar and Cleveland
Outwood Academy Valley, Notts