STAFF at Aylesford School in Warwick have been striking to save their jobs,
Members of the National Education Union (NEU), who make up the majority of staff, took to the picket lines on Thursday June 4 in a dispute over a restructure they said had been rushed through and risked mass redundancies.
Further strike action has been partly suspended after the NEU said the school had agreed to a resolution action plan.
As a result, two strikes planned for the week commencing Monday June 8 were suspended but members voted to keep three days of action in place.
The union said the decision to retain the threat of future action was put in place until “an outstanding staffing matter” was resolved.
However, it said the agreement included measures to reduce workload and a commitment to recognise the NEU.
Staff returned to the Shelley Avenue school after Easter to hear about a restructure consultation including 11 redundancies – teachers of music, drama and PE among them.
Simon O’Hara, assistant branch secretary of Warwickshire NEU, said members had “won major concessions” following last week’s strike.
He continued: “Our members have stood together in solidarity to oppose cuts to jobs, conditions and to the curriculum.
“We genuinely believe Aylesford has a bright future, with state‑of‑the‑art facilities and great staff at both primary and secondary phases. We would encourage the local community to send their children to Aylesford. The staff there are simply phenomenal. They went on strike because they care.”
A spokesperson for Aylesford School added: “The school remains committed to stabilising its financial position and improving the quality of education for its pupils. While we recognise the dedication and commitment of staff, our priority is to secure the long-term future of the school and rebuild confidence within the community.
“We do not believe that industrial action will have a positive impact on pupils or the wider school community. We encourage the NEU and its members to engage constructively with us to reach a resolution and support the shared goal of school improvement.”
NEU members are expected to meet by Friday (June 12) to decide whether to suspend the remaining strike dates.
