West Coventry Academy staff go on strike
Six days strike action starts today
Staff at West Coventry Academy are going on strike for six days.
It comes after staff raised concerns around a number of issues, including the excessive workload.
All union members at West Coventry Academy voted to take part in the strike action starting today, Tuesday 11th October.
The National Education Union said, "their members take such action very seriously and would only resort to strike action as a last resort."
Meanwhile the Academy have said they are "wholly disappointed at the decision" and they will not be able to remain fully open during those days.
In a joint statement Ana Neofitou, Headteacher, West Coventry Academy & Richard Gill CBE, CEO of the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP) said:
We are wholly disappointed at the decision by some members of the National Education Union at West Coventry Academy to take part in strike action.
A total of 40 members of the NEU have voted for six days of strike action in response to an increase in the number of lessons teachers are asked to teach in line with the national Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document. In response to their concerns, the Trust has paused the planned increase until September 2024 and will continue to engage with staff around our workload and wellbeing charter.
Regrettably, as a result of the NEU industrial action, the school is not able to remain fully open on those days to all students. This is a cause of concern for all of us. Our priority is to minimise disruption to our school community and ensure that learning continues.
Across the six strike days, all students will have access to remote learning, and all year groups will have at least one day in school. Mock examinations and trips will go ahead as planned. All vulnerable children can attend school as normal, and children who are in receipt of free school meals will be provided for.
We have written to all parents and carers with the plans relating to their child/ren. We have also been talking to students in assemblies and will continue to support them throughout this time.
Every effort has been made to avoid the planned strike action and reach an agreement with the regional representatives of NEU. Despite those negotiations and the concessions made by the Trust, the NEU has refused to stand down strikes.
We sincerely regret the impact this will have on everyone in schools: students, teachers, staff and parents. We are particularly disappointed in this decision following the severe disruption to children’s education over the last two years due to the pandemic. The NEU’s decision to take teachers away from classrooms – especially at a time when students may need additional support - is unacceptable.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to children and young people. We thank our school community for its patience and continued support.
The National Education Union Statement:
Members of the National Education Union in West Coventry Academy have voted to undertake strike action, beginning on Tuesday 11th October.
Members of the National Education Union take such action very seriously and would only resort to strike action as a last resort. The NEU have 50 members in West Coventry Academy.
Members of staff have raised concerns for many months around a number of issues, including but not limited to excessive workload, impacting on members of staff's physical and mental health. Members showed the strength of feelings in 100% Yes votes for industrial action.
Some concessions have been made, but not significant enough for members. Since the beginning of the ballot, the school have already further increased teaching hours to the highest for any secondary school in Coventry, and plan to further increase hours in subsequent years. This would be significantly out of line with norms not just in Coventry but with schools right across the country, and the NEU and its members are clear that this will have a detrimental impact on not only the staff in the school but the educational provision for children in the school. NEU members always have the education of our pupils at heart and would not take such industrial action unless they felt that such changes were detrimental to their own wellbeing but also the education of children in the school.
"The NEU has sought to resolve these issues with the school at every stage and are open to talks at any time to avoid such action," Nicky Downes Joint District and Branch Secretary, Coventry NEU.