Industrial Action: Wednesday 1 February 2023

Dear Parent/Carer

 

As you may have seen, the National Education Union (NEU) has confirmed that their teaching members will be taking industrial action in the form of strike days.  The first date scheduled is Wednesday 01 February.  The other dates which may impact our academy are Tuesday 28 February, Wednesday 15 March and Thursday 16 March but we will update you of the plans closer to those dates as the Secretary of State is meeting with trade unions to try to resolve the outstanding issues.  

 

This action is not against Outwood Academy Shafton itself but is part of national industrial action organised by the trade unions about salary negotiations with the Department for Education.

 

Neither the Outwood Grange Academies Trust Board nor myself as Principal are legally allowed to close the academy in sympathy with the strike, and we will not do so.  However, our main concern is the health and safety of our students.  

 

Following our risk assessment and due to the number of staff taking action, we have made the difficult decision to close the academy on the first day (01 February) to all students apart from Year 11 who will be expected to attend. A package of activities will be available on this day for Y11. Y11 students will be expected to arrive at 9am for breakfast.

 

Families of incredibly vulnerable students will be contacted in relation to provision on 1 February 2023.

 

We will update you again about the plan for the academy before the next proposed strike date.  

 

Whilst the academy will be closed to some students, online activities via Google Classroom will be available to all students.

 

Students in all year groups in receipt of free school meals may attend between 12.30 and 1 to pick up a grab bag. We will send out a Google form for you to book this in advance. 

 

*In order to ensure that we can communicate any changes to these plans at short notice; which may include on the day itself, we are asking parents/carers to ensure that we hold up to date emergency contact details.  If you do need to make any changes, please send to our dedicated email address for this purpose enquiries@shafton.outwood.com  We will always endeavour to minimise disruption as much as possible.

 

We understand that there will be concerns about the disruption but we want to give you this advance notice and thank you in advance for your patience and understanding at this time.

 

Yours faithfully,

Principal

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Industrial Action-Information Letter for Parents.docx.pdf 258 KB