Primary school staff walk out over academy takeover
It's the 13th day of strike action
Staff from a community primary school in Preston are walking out today over plans to make it an academy.
It's the 13th day of strike action at St Matthew's on New Hall Lane after governors decided to turn it into an academy.
Current plans mean the school will be under Cidari Multi-Academy Trust – a private company linked with the Diocese of Blackburn.
The Members of the National Education Union (NEU) and school staff opposing the changes are hoping the rally outside Blackburn cathedral will lead Blackburn Dicese to step in to help resolve the dispute.
NEU representative and Year 4 teacher Julie Copeland says she's worried about how the school might change under the new ownership.
"We' are not wanting to be disrespectful, but the fact is that the school as we know it will have gone", Julie said.
"Th governors are hoping that the school will convert next week and then everything will be forgotten, but I don't know how they expect us to do that, because they still haven't sat down with us for talks.
"Just this week, pillars have been taken out at the front of the school that have been there since 1891. It feels like they are trying to get rid of the past and move to a bigger, brighter future - and obviously we all want what's best for the children, but we don't believe this is best."
School still to become an academy on Tuesday
Last week, NEU members went to Cidari's headquarters to express their concerns to their future employer and demanded that the trust did not take control of the primary school until September.
Following the meeting, Cidari said that it would attempt to "facilitate a discussion" between the school's staff and governors.
The chair of governors has since written to teachers and support workers, stating that any delay in the takeover would cause "prolonged uncertainty and anxiety for everyone involved".
Currently, the school will still take on the academy status on 1st February as planned.
Preston NEU Secretary, Ian Watkinson said: “The mainly Church appointed governing body of St Matts have shown complete disregard for the wishes and feelings of staff, parents and the wider community.
"Many of these Church appointed foundation governors do not live locally to the school and have shown no understanding of the damage they have needlessly inflicted on our members and the school.
"It has highlighted to us that the Church itself needs to get its house in order so that their governors serve their schools and communities, and not business interests.”
NEU Senior Regional Officer, Jim Dye, added: “We are immensely proud of the massive fight our members at St Matts have undertaken to defend their school.
"We have been shocked by how out of touch the governing body has been, and how they went into hiding following the decision to academise the school and refused to engage in talks with NEU to find solutions to resolve the dispute and end the strike.”