Teachers closed schools to return to classes

Teachers who walked out of a secondary school are to return to classrooms on Thursday after voting in favor of taking industrial action rather than strike, a union said.

NASUWT said around 25 members had agreed to “scale down” their action at Gable Hall School in Corringham, Essex, “to give the employer the opportunity to meet with us and negotiate a resolution to the current dispute over workload and working practices.” To provide” “.

The teachers union said that if there is no opportunity to resolve the dispute, further industrial action is likely in January.

The school principal and the academy trust that runs it have been asked to respond to the latest announcement.

During the dispute, the Ortu Federation, which runs the schools, told the BBC that it had asked staff members “to meet contractual obligations of 1,265 hours per academic year set out in the current version of the school teachers’ pay and conditions document, which “Comes into force on 3 November 2023”.

On 11 December the decision was taken to keep the staff out of school, as they had decided not to comply with tasks,

An employee letter said, “During this period of industrial action, participating employees must remain off work and will not be paid… until they fully comply with their contractual obligations.” Don’t get ready.”

NASUWT said it took the decision to return to classrooms to prevent any negative impact on pupils and “to allow educational visits and visits unaffected by the employer’s actions”.

Patrick Roach, the union’s general secretary, said they were “ready and willing to engage in negotiations at any time, as we have been throughout this dispute”.

“The employer’s decision to lock out our members is harming students’ education,” he said.

In a separate action, the GMB union said it had collected almost 700 signatures to protest against the loss of 30 support staff at Gable Hall School and another academy run by the Ortu Federation – Hasenbrouck Academy in nearby Stanford-le-Hope.

The union claimed it was told these were necessary cuts due to an alleged £1.2m “accounting error”.

GMB regional organiser, Jasmine Dean, said: “Support staff play a vital role in ensuring the well-being and safety of pupils – particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).”

He said the union is deeply concerned that students will no longer get the support they need.

Gable Hall and the Ortu Federation have been asked to comment on the alleged financial shortfall and any potential job cuts.

The Ortu Federation has been in the process of relocating to the Mossbourne Federation since January.