Dorset schools face strike action by staff

A teaching union has announced strike action at schools run by a multi-academy trust over planned subject cuts and redundancies, while another union has paused its walkouts.

Initio Learning Trust, which runs 19 schools in Dorset, is restructuring Queen Elizabeth's (QE) School in Wimborne and Corfe Hills School in Corfe Mullen.

The National Education Union (NEU) has announced industrial action at the sites on 6 May but The Teachers' Union NASUWT, paused its planned walkouts at the schools.

Inito Learning Trust, said its priority remains "providing a supportive working environment for all staff, ensuring our schools continue to provide high-quality education to all our students".

The planned changes by the Trust sparked protests and have been raised in Parliament, with a Parliamentary petition gathering more than 2,000 signatures.

According to the NEU, members report that proposed staffing reductions, alongside already high workloads, large class sizes and limited support for students with additional needs, risk undermining the ability of teachers to deliver high-quality teaching and provide the support that pupils require.

One teacher involved in the dispute said: "After many years of teaching, I never thought I would find myself on a picket line, but I can no longer stand by and watch."

They apologised to the children who will be affected by the strikes, but said "this is a last resort as the Trust will not be moved to action in any other way".

The NEU said Further strike dates are currently scheduled for mid and late May should the dispute remain unresolved.

The NASUWT were scheduled to strike at QE School and Corfe Hills School on 30 April, 1 May and 7 May over the same issues.

Mike Leigh, national executive member for the The Teachers' Union NASUWT, said those walkouts have been paused while formal negotiations take place.

"That was a really positive step by the employer, they want to negotiate, they want to work with us," Leigh said.

A spokesperson from Inito Learning Trust, said: "Following constructive conversations with unions, we have made sufficient progress to continue the discussion towards a resolution and the planned strike action for this week has now been suspended. While this represents a positive step forward, we will continue to work with representatives and we remain committed to ensuring that a lasting resolution is agreed.

"Our priority remains providing a supportive working environment for all staff, ensuring our schools continue to provide high-quality education to all our students.

"We thank both our staff and union representatives for their cooperation and support."

Meanwhile the NASUWT members held industrial action at Budmouth Academy in Weymouth on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Leigh said the teachers have "had enough" with having to work more than their contracted hours, and being asked to work through their breaks.

He added that staff were unhappy with the number of observations that take place, with members of the senior team standing at classroom doors watching what is going on.

"That might seem as though it's harmless enough but it's actually a very intimidating process that members of staff are being put through," Leigh said.

He said when teachers fail to "teach in a very specific way" they are told they could be put on a "support plan", where their work is monitored.

"Staff have always worked beyond their contracts, going above and beyond but yet that seems to not be enough," Leigh said.

Leigh said 93% of its members voted in favour of industrial action at Budmouth Academy and student's parents have been supportive of the union and the teachers.

Aspirations Academies Trust, which runs Budmouth Academy, have not given a comment to the BBC.