Schools and their pupils are set to be disrupted by nationwide strict action by teachers next week, with two schools already confirming that they will be closed.
The National Executive of the National Union of Teachers has decided that members will be taking action in England and Wales on Thursday 10th July alongside other unions up and down the country.
Changes to the pay policies and working conditions of teachers are contributing the teacher shortages on the Isle of Wight and across the country. Due to the teacher shortages, schools on the Island are being forced to replace teachers with unqualified staff.
In a recent survey of members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) on the Isle of Wight, 85% said that in their school children and students had lessons taken by unqualified staff. Schools on the Island still have teacher vacancies to fill for September.
John M. McGee, Secretary of the National Union of Teachers on the Isle of Wight, said:
“The Government is still failing to make progress on our trade dispute over teachers’ pay, pensions and workload. The talks are still only about the implementation of Government policies, not about the fundamental issues we believe to be detrimental to education and the profession.
“For teachers, performance-related pay, working until 68 for a full pension and a heavy workload of up to 60+ hours a week, is unsustainable. Teachers in an Island Primary School have been logging their hours. They found that it came to 67-68 hours a week! Weekends are lost in paperwork. Ask anyone whose daughter, son or spouse is a Teacher and they will tell you the same.
“This action is the direct responsibility of a Government and an Education Secretary who are refusing point-blank to accept the damage which their “reforms” are doing to the teaching profession. Turning teaching into a totally unattractive career choice will most certainly lead to teacher shortages.
Article continues below this advertisement “Strike action is a last resort for teachers and we deeply regret the disruption it causes for parents and pupils. This date has been chosen to cause minimum disruption to examinations.
“Teaching is one of the best jobs in the world but is being made one of the worst under Michael Gove and the Coalition. It is time they listened. Michael Gove can still avoid the strike by engaging in serious negotiations on substantive issues.”
Barton Primary School and St George’s Special School have confirmed they will be closed next Thursday. Arreton St George’s have confirmed they will remain open.
Join Island Echo for live updates leading up to and on strike day itself on your child’s school’s status. Keep an eye out for our school closure system next week.
