Teachers continue strikes over longer school day

The NEU accused academy bosses of not listening to teachers

Strikes by teachers at seven schools in Yorkshire in a row over a proposed longer school day are to continue, a union has said.

Staff walkouts at schools run by Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) in Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley and Easingwold, plus two in Wakefield and one in Hemsworth, would be held on 10 days in July, the National Education Union (NEU) said.

Strikes began at OGAT sites across the UK last month after the trust said it wanted a school day lasting 30 minutes longer, but the union said OGAT showed a lack of "understanding of the day-to-day pressures" its members faced.

OGAT said it was "deeply disappointed" the NEU had rejected its proposals "to resolve the dispute".

Schools in Redcar, Wigan, Scunthorpe, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire are also affected by the ongoing disruption.

Nick Raine, from the NEU, said its members at OGAT-run sites had "not taken industrial action lightly".

"They have continued to support children with additional classes for exam revision," he said.

"While no teacher wants to take strike action, any move that leads to an increase in teacher workload is clearly unacceptable.

"NEU members have no choice but to take action as the trust simply will not listen."

Separately, the NASUWT teaching union said it had suspended some planned industrial action over the plans at the schools in Easingwold, Scunthorpe, Barnsley and Hemsworth, meaning its members would work at those sites as normal.

However, further strike action by its members was still scheduled to take place over the next two weeks, it said.

OGAT's school in Sheffield is one of seven in Yorkshire affected by the industrial action

In a statement, OGAT said it was "deeply disappointed" the NEU had turned down its proposals to solve the dispute.

A spokesperson said: "Resolving the significant disruption to children's education remains our highest priority.

"We've therefore consistently prioritised meetings and discussions, and have offered a number of solutions and refined proposals to our union colleagues.

"While NASUWT has been amenable to them, unfortunately the NEU has not been as positive and we have been unable to make the same progress as a result."

Andy Wroe, whose son attends Outwood Academy in Sheffield, told the BBC the situation was "not good enough".

"The kids' education is suffering, their friendship groups are suffering, and I don't feel it's fair," he said.

"As a parent, we just want the right thing for the kids. I don't mind the teachers protesting - they've a right to do so - but we need to find a resolution because the kids are suffering.

"They just need to talk and realise there are a lot of children in the middle who are nervous, disrupted and worried."

Further talks between the union and academy bosses are due to take place next week, with mediators from the Acas arbitration service involved.

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