Teachers at schools across the Harrogate district will not be in the classrooms tomorrow in the first of a series of days of industrial action.
The strike has been called by the National Education Union (NEU) in a dispute over pay and conditions.
The union argues a 5% pay rise in 2022 was insufficient to combat the impact of inflation at 10%, leaving many teachers effectively facing a pay cut.
It argues low pay has been a significant factor in many teachers choosing to leave the profession, and has deterred others from joining it. The result, the NEU says, is more pressure on those who remain, particularly since the pandemic.
The union’s points were supported yesterday by Harrogate Grammar School headteacer Neil Renton, who appeared on BBC News to discuss the situation.
He said he was “torn between [his] head and heart”, seeing the difficulties faced by teachers while also wanting to keep the school gates open for pupils.
The issues the NEU raised, he said, affected schools directly too: a recent advert for an English teacher at HGS attracted just one applicant. He added:
“If this continues and we are not able to work with government and ministers to create an education for the future I would, as an educator, want to take steps to make sure we make a much brighter education for our children.”
Read more:
- Why are Harrogate district teachers going on strike?
- Harrogate train passengers braced for further strikes next week
The following schools across the Harrogate district have confirmed some of their teachers will be on strike and released details of how they will operate tomorrow.
The school said it is prioritising students taking exams this summer, and those identified as vulnerable.
Years 11 and 13 will be in school, along with children from other year groups who have been contacted individually.
Remote learning from home will be offered to years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12. Some live lessons will be led by teachers who are not on strike.
King James’s High School, Knaresborough
The school will be open to pupils in years 11, 12 and 13. Other year groups will be provided with online learning.
The school said it would liaise directly with parents of students with an EHCP about the possibility of provision in school.
The school will be open to year 11 and vulnerable students, while all other year groups learn from home.
Years 7 and 11 will be in school, but students are advised to bring additional work and reading material in case lessons cannot be taught by the subject teacher.
Students in years 8,9, 10 and 12 will learn from home, including some online lessons with teachers who are not on strike.
Year 13 students will be able to work in school if they wish, or revise and join live online lessons from home.
Any students with an EHCP, as well as boarders who can’t go home, can go into school as usual. There is also provision for students whose parents are critical workers.
Rossett School, Harrogate
The school is open to students in years 7, 11, 12 and 13.
Where usual subject teachers are on strike, younger students will have lessons covered by members of the school’s senior leadership team. Older students will carry out independent revision or private study in the sixth form centre.
Students in years 8,9 and 10 will have online lessons available to access from home.
St Aidan’s Church of England High School, Harrogate
Years 7 and 11 will be in school, with years 8, 9 and 10 asked to learn at home.
Sixth form students can work at home or use a supervised study area, if they tell the school they plan to do so.
Students in any year group with an EHCP can attend.
St John Fisher Catholic High School, Harrogate
Years 7 and 11 will be in school, with years 8, 9 and 10 asked to learn at home.
Sixth form students can work at home or use a supervised study area, if they tell the school they plan to do so.
Students in any year group with an EHCP can attend and will spend the day doing activities to develop their social skills, life skills and wellbeing. The school said there may not be sufficient staff available to have one-to-one provision for all students.
Details of how other secondary schools are affected will be posted as we get them.
The next strike date to affect the Harrogate district will be at the end of February.
Three more Harrogate schools report confirmed covid casesA further three schools in Harrogate have reported confirmed cases of coronavirus in their students.
It comes as six new cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district in the last day, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 894.
St Aidan’s C of E High School, St John Fisher Catholic High School and Bilton Grange Primary School have all sent confirmation to parents that they are following protocol and a number of students have been asked to self-isolate at home for 14 days.
The headteacher of St John Fisher has confirmed two cases of coronavirus among students. Similarly to the other schools, it has asked other students who had close contact with either of those diagnosed to self-isolate at home.
Mr Mort said:
“Due to the year group bubble arrangement and fixed seating plans which we have in place, we have been able to identify and contact a small number of students who have commenced a self-isolation period of 14 days. This has meant that we have not needed to close a full class/year group bubble. We are working with Public Health England and following all guidance necessary to ensure the school environment is as safe as possible.”
It is understood at least one of the cases relates to a student in the sixth form, which is joint with neighbouring St Aidan’s.
A letter to parents at St Aidan’s said the school was working with Public Health England and had asked some students to stay at home for 14 days. Headteacher Chris Burt said:
“St Aidan’s works alongside St John Fisher in providing the Associated Sixth Form across our schools. We were informed on Wednesday of a confirmed case of Covid-19 within the schools that has resulted in a small number of students having to observe a 14 day isolation period. The schools across the Association continue to work closely with Public Health England and the Local Health Protection Team.
“We wish the student concerned a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming all students involved back to school as soon as possible.”
Bilton Grange Primary School has also sent a letter to parents confirming a case. Students in one bubble in the school are self-isolating at home.
Just weeks into the new term some students are being sent home again in order to self-isolate.
Read more:
- Harrogate Grammar School confirms one of its students has tested positive for coronavirus.
- Harrogate Ladies College is another school confirming a positive case.
Earlier this week, both Harrogate Grammar School and Harrogate Ladies’ College confirmed they had students who had received positive coronavirus tests. Other students in their ‘bubbles’ are now isolating at home for 14 days.
The additional cases in schools come a day after North Yorkshire county council say it has introduced full emergency status as it deals with the rising number of cases in the county.
The authority said the highest numbers of cases are centred around the Harrogate and Selby districts.