TAKING ACTION: Outwood Grange Academies Trust schools went out on strike this week.
STRIKE action which was taken at a Barnsley school this week due to a controversial plan to extend the day and subsequently increase workloads will continue into next week after talks collapsed.
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) working in schools operated by Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) took action on Tuesday and Wednesday.
It was revealed that a further three days of action will commence on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, impacting Outwood Academy Shafton.
NEU members say OGAT’s plans – which could see an extension of the school day by 30 minutes – will lead to a ‘substantial increase’ in workload and a potential struggle to retain teachers.
The proposed changes are being implemented without proper consultation of the workforce, it has been claimed.
Debbie Kahler, from the NEU, said: “Our committed and hard-working members have voted for strike action on the grounds of workload and changes to the current school day.
“This is not a decision they have taken lightly as they have the best interests of the children at heart.
“They need a realistic working day.
“Teachers already have a huge workload which is having significant impact on the retention of teachers in schools.
“They’re working harder and longer – the trust can no longer ignore the pressures teachers are under.
“It’s time to invest in what truly matters, support the staff and pupils.
“Squeezing more teaching into an already jam-packed working day is not the solution.
“Outwood Grange Academy Trust are putting more strain on teachers, on their work-life balance and affecting the teaching staff of families.”
The trust, which has 28 secondary schools in the north of England, carried out a 12-week consultation period with trade union partners and colleagues, which led to ‘significant modifications’ to the original proposal.
Leaders expressed their disappointment with the union’s handling of the situation.
A statement added: “The majority of Outwood’s secondary academies do not currently meet the Department for Education’s (DfE) minimum expectation of a 32.5-hour week, an expectation which needed to be met by September 2024.
“As such, many UK schools have already made changes and extended their school day in accordance with the government guidance.
“The move to a longer school day will ensure all benefit from the recommended amount of teaching and learning time, enhancing educational outcomes and providing a richer curriculum experience.
“The trust is dedicated to providing an outstanding education for all its young people, and meeting the government’s minimum expectation of 32.5 hours is a fundamental part of that commitment.
“We believe every minute in school counts and increasing our pupils’ learning time is vital for their academic success and personal development.
“Our pupils have told us they want to develop life skills such as financial literacy, more careers education and more time to debate issues they experience in their lives, and our re-modelled week will mean we can deliver this and more for them.
“We understand that changes to the school day can have an impact on our colleagues and families.
“That’s why we underwent a thorough 12-week consultation with our trade union partners and colleagues.
“We are grateful for the constructive feedback we received, which has been instrumental in shaping our final plans.
“The original proposal has been significantly adapted based on this feedback.
“We have also made a commitment to continue to meet regularly with the trade unions to identify any unnecessary workload so that the new school week is overall ‘workload neutral’.
“Despite this genuine consultation and the changes made to the proposal, we are surprised and exceptionally disappointed that our trade union partners have chosen to take strike action over this matter.
“This disappointment is heightened by the fact that industrial action has been called during the crucial exam season, a time our pupils have worked incredibly hard for and deserve a stable and supportive environment to demonstrate their learning.
“We respect the right of our colleagues to express their views and remain open to constructive dialogue and collaborative working, but we also want to ensure our pupils are prioritised and provided with the best possible education, particularly during their exams.
“Outwood Grange Academies Trust remains dedicated to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition and continued success for its pupils, while mitigating any disruption caused by industrial action.”