Tile Hill and Woodlands teachers strike over academy plan

Teachers at two Coventry schools are to stage three days of strike action over plans to turn them into academies.

Union staff at Tile Hill Wood Secondary School start a 48-hour strike on Tuesday, with a two-day strike at the Woodlands School from Wednesday.

The NUT said teachers claim there has not been enough consultation and the move threatens the terms and conditions of their employment.

But the schools maintain they will operate better as academies.

Academies have greater control over their budgets and can set their own pay and conditions for staff.

Staff went on strike last month in protest at the plans.

'Host of issues'

But Peter Wall, chairman of the governors at Tile Hill Wood School, has said the consultation process had been extensive.

The Woodlands has also said its application would not be withdrawn.

Jane Nellist, joint secretary of the Coventry Association of the NUT, said: "There is a growing concern about our schools becoming academies and what that will mean for teachers and the pupils.

"There has been very little consultation with parents and the wider community.

"The fact that our members have decided to take further strike action indicates their worries regarding a whole host of issues, including pay and conditions .

"The NUT believes that this is the start of the privatisation process of our schools."