Striking teachers protest Dorset school's restructuring plans
The NASUWT has called the move 'unacceptable'
A number of teachers are striking today (15/07) in Dorset over a school's restructuring plans.
Members of the Teachers' Union, the NASUWT, announced the walkout at Sturminster Newton High School as it's claimed the Sherborne Area Schools Trust (SAST) is pushing ahead with plans to cut teachers’ jobs and cut the pay of subject leads and head of year posts.
The NASUWT says it believes this is unacceptable and will significantly impact the remaining teachers’ workloads, their pay and status and will be detrimental to pupils’ education.
NASUWT members at Shaftsbury School have already taken strike action over the plans and now teachers at Sturminster Newton are striking, with further days of action planned in September.
The school tell us five members of staff have walked out today, with the site remaining fully open.
They have also reiterated that no compulsory redundancies have been made during the restructure process, with three opting for voluntary redundancy, and a number of others taking roles elsewhere.
'We believe there are alternative solutions'
Matt Wrack, NASUWT Acting General Secretary, said: “The SAST have stated that they are focused on what matters most – the experiences and outcomes of students. Such sentiments are hard to square with this drive to make experienced and skilled teachers redundant, whilst downgrading the pay and status of subject and year leads.
“We believe there are alternative solutions which could be found which would protect jobs and education delivery and we repeat our call to the Trust to work with us to find a sensible way forward for the good of staff, pupils and parents.”
'SAST needs to recognise the strength of opposition'
Mike Leigh, National Executive Member for Dorset, said: “SAST needs to recognise the strength of opposition across the school community and revise their plans.
“Expecting fewer teachers to do more with less is not conducive to maintaining the high standards of teaching and learning that teachers want to deliver and pupils and parents have a right to expect.
“Teachers are a school’s most valuable asset, but right now staff feel they are being treated as disposable commodities to be swopped around at the whim of the Trust, with seemingly little consideration for their welfare or professionalism.”
'Long term financial sustainability'
A spokesperson for the Trust told us: "Shaftesbury School and Sturminster Newton High School have recently undergone a restructuring process, designed to ensure long-term financial sustainability and to strengthen our ability to drive up educational standards across both schools.
"Between the two schools they were facing a budget deficit of £1m, so we commissioned an independent SRMA (School Resource Management Adviser) report in conjunction with the DfE, to look at ways to reduce costs whilst maintaining educational provision. These are the same financial challenges being faced by many rural secondary schools, who are having to decided whether their sixth forms are sustainable. We believe that sixth forms should remain in our local communities, and we are therefore looking to share some leadership roles across the two schools to reduce overheads whilst encouraging collaboration between them.
"The process has involved a full consultation involving staff and union representatives. We have listened throughout and made considered adjustments in response to genuine feedback, while keeping our focus on what matters most — the experience and outcomes of our students.
"Both schools remain distinct, with their own leadership and identity. However, they will now benefit from greater collaboration in areas such as curriculum alignment and professional development. This enables us to build on recent improvements at Sturminster, accelerate progress at Shaftesbury, and ensure equity of opportunity for all students, whichever site they attend.
"We respect the right of staff to take industrial action, and we continue to engage in constructive dialogue with union colleagues. Our commitment remains to act in the best long-term interests of pupils and staff — supporting wellbeing, delivering improvement, and managing public funds responsibly."