18 January 2023

National Education Union (NEU) Industrial Action 

The NEU has announced that its members in England have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in support of an increased pay award for teachers and more funding for schools.  The NEU is calling the first day of strike action on Wednesday 1 February and we expect that a number of College staff will participate.  This action is not against Collingwood itself but is part of national industrial action. 

The Department for Education expects headteachers to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to keep the school open for as many pupils as possible and I will, of course, comply with this as long as I can ensure it is safe to do so.  As there is no requirement on unions to inform me in advance of which members of staff will take action on this day, it is very difficult to accurately predict how many staff will be in College.  We do have a considerable number of NEU members so I anticipate that there will be significant disruption to the normal running of the College.

Over the coming days we will be completing a risk assessment to evaluate the impact that the industrial action will have on the College.  Following the risk assessment we will decide what steps we might need to take to ensure continuity of learning for as many of our students as possible, whilst also ensuring that staff and students are not exposed to risks to their health and safety.

If we do have to resort to remote learning for some year groups, then we will obviously prioritise those year groups who have external examinations this year to be on site, following their normal timetables, although with the provision that some lessons will not be with their normal teacher.  We will also ensure that provision is made for our vulnerable students and children of critical workers, as we did during the COVID pandemic lockdown.

Once we have completed our risk assessment, I will notify all parents and carers of our plans.

Mr Tanner - Principal