Parents and carers have been advised of a change to the start of the new term
Teaching staff at Pinehurt Primary School in Anfield could strike(Image: Google Maps)
A Merseyside school will not be reopening on its planned date for the new term in September. A message has been issued to parents and carers of children at Pinehurst Primary School in Anfield today.
The message warns that while it had been planned that children would return to the school for the new term on Wednesday September 3, this will now not be the case. Instead, the children will return on Friday September 5.
This is because teaching staff at the school will be walking out on strike in September. After a successful ballot by the National Education Union, more than 30 members of staff started a series of walk-outs earlier this month. The strikes are set to continue on September 9 and 11.
In its notice to parents, the school said: “Firstly we would like to thank you for your support and understanding during this time. Our priority this week has been to ensure the school remains open, so that the final days of the term are not disrupted.
“This has been especially important for our Year 6 pupils, who are concluding their Pinehurst learning journey. We are pleased that they have been able to enjoy a positive and well-deserved end to their primary school years.
The letter added: “You may be aware that further strike dates have been announced for early September.
Pinehurt Primary School in Anfield (Image: Google Maps)
“After careful consideration, and in order to ensure the smoothest possible start to the new school year, we have made the difficult decision to reopen to pupils on Friday September 5, rather than the originally planned start of Wednesday September 3.”
The school said they are planning to remain open for the already-announced strike dates on September 9 and 11 and are “optimistic” that this will be possible.
The staff are striking over plans to convert the primary school into an academy. The NEU says school bosses have “refused to engage meaningfully with staff and the wider community” over the plans.
Bora Oktas, NEU regional officer, said: “Despite repeated offers from the union to engage in constructive dialogue, the employer has acted in bad faith, failing to consider staff feedback, rejecting proposals for extended consultation, and refusing to carry out either an equality impact assessment for staff or a community impact assessment for parents and pupils.”
But defending the move in its new statement to parents, the school added: “We also want to take this opportunity to reaffirm the reasoning behind the governing body’s decision to apply an academy order.
“This decision followed a period of consultation and has been made in what we believe to be in the best interests of our children, staff and wider school community.
“We are confident that joining a values-led trust will provide long-term benefits and support for Pinehurst.”