Teachers to strike over academy plan

Unions’ one-day action hits Crompton House
TEACHERS at one of Oldham’s top performing state schools will strike on Thursday.

Members of the NUT and NASUWT unions will walk out over Crompton House’s plans to break away from the local authority and become an academy.

The school will open for Year 11, 12 and 13 pupils, but other years will be told to work at home.

The unions say that the vast majority of teachers oppose becoming an academy which would give the Church of England secondary more freedoms.

They believe it would harm the school and education in Oldham, and that no decision should be taken until an successor is appointed to head teacher Elise Tough, who is retiring. The school has also been accused of not allowing unions to express teachers’ concerns directly to the full governing body.

Thursday’s strike could be the first of a series at the school. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers is not taking part but has told its members not to cover work normally carried out by NUT and NASUWT colleagues.

Tony Harrison, secretary of Oldham NUT, said “We asked to meet the full governing body to make our case against the plans. This is a perfectly reasonable request given that it will be the full body that makes the final decision.

“Crompton House has worked in a successful partnership with the local authority for generations and our members understand that becoming an academy will effectively privatise the school and concentrate power in the hands of just a few people.

“There is not one jot of evidence that academies improve educational standards. Indeed the school has not attempted to justify the conversion on educational grounds.

“I cannot understand why the school is rushing this experiment through at a time of uncertainty. Surely it would make sense for any newly-appointed head teacher to have time to consult staff and unions about the proposals? It is not too late to avert the strike. If the governing body agrees to put its plans on hold, await the appointment of the new head teacher and agree to fresh negotiations there would be no need strike.”

Deputy head teacher Jim Upton said: “We are disappointed that teachers are striking, especially during the build up to the exam period.

“We have consulted staff and had two meetings with them them. The reasons for the strike, we have been told, are to do with the change of employer. It would change from the current governors to the new governors.

“We have said that we have no plans to change pay and conditions.”

A list of academy FAQs for parents is available on the website www.crompton-house.oldham.sch.uk .