Strikes at Horncastle schools are suspended by teaching unions after talks
Industrial action involving teachers at schools in Horncastle has been paused indefinitely after further talks and negotiations.
It means that strikes planned for September at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School and Banovallum School were called off.
And teaching unions have agreed to hold a ballot of its members during October to see if the action can be halted completely.
The unions have been locked in a dispute with Horncastle Education Trust, which runs the schools, over proposed job-losses and cuts, announced earlier this year and described by teachers as “catastrophic”.
The dispute, which also involved Huttoft Primary School and New York and Frithville Primary School in Boston, escalated when the trust allegedly refused to accept a trade union recognition agreement (TURA) or a negotiating mechanism.
Seven days of strikes since May have led to disruption for more than 1,600 pupils. But now both parties see light at the end of the tunnel after meetings overseen by the third-party conciliation service, Acas.
A spokesperson for the National Education Union (NEU) said: “Members have voted to suspend industrial action with a view to withdrawing it entirely should the trust fulfil the fresh agreements made.
"We believe negotiations are moving in the right direction. We hope that we will be in a position to agree on better working conditions for staff and, therefore, better learning conditions for students.
"Staff are committed to resolving the dispute, so that children can remain in the classroom and continue to receive a high standard of education.”
The NEU’s stance is supported by the other union involved, NASUWT, the Teachers’ Union. A spokesperson said: “We are pleased to have reached agreement with the employer on arrangements that provide rights to consultation and negotiations for our members.
"We are prepared to begin the task of creating policies and working conditions that are in the best interests of staff, and that will ultimately benefit pupils and the wider community.”
Sandra James, chief executive officer of the trust, said: “We welcome the progress that has been made through discussions with both NASUWT and the NEU, and particularly the decision to suspend all future industrial action.
“This gives us the opportunity to move forward constructively and continue the positive work that has taken place.
“Everyone involved shares the same fundamental priority: providing the best possible education for our pupils.
"We will continue working with our union colleagues to fulfil the agreements reached and ensure our schools can focus on supporting their pupils, staff and wider communities.”
The job-losses and cuts were announced as part of a restructure at the schools after the trust admitted it had faced “increasing financial challenges”.
A further twist emerged during the school holidays when the trust revealed it is soon to be disbanded in its current form, with the schools switching to a new and bigger trust in the coming months.
Mrs James concluded: “There is no shying away from the fact that this has been a challenging time for all those linked to our schools.
“I think it is important that we recognise the maturity our children have shown in managing this disruption, and the patience and understanding of our families.
"We will be working tirelessly to ensure the rhythm of school live can return to normal.”