Staff at independent schools trust strike over pensions
The continuing unrest over pensions provisions in the independent schools’ sector has led to a number of staff walkouts.
The Girls Day School Trust, which is responsible for 23 private schools across the country, has faced a serious of one-day strikes.
An initial day of action in mid-February saw staff at schools across the trust walk out in support of calls for a review of pension provisions. This was followed by three further days of industrial action at the trust-owned Northampton High School.
Mary Bousted, from the National Education Union, said efforts from the trust to find a solution had come too late and that it has been “shocked” by the Trust’s plans to withdraw from the current pension scheme.
The industrial action is the first in the 149-year history of the Girls Day School Trust, which supporters of the move claim shows the depth of teachers’ feelings for the proposed pension changes.
Una O’Brien, NEU Regional Secretary, said that its members were “concerned that not only is this unfair, but that it will make the school a less desirable place to work with valued staff leaving to join other local schools”.
In response, the Trust said that it had seen a 43 per cent increase in its contributions to the TPS since 2019.
Cheryl Giovannoni, chief executive of the GDST, said: “The GDST trustees will now consider all the feedback we have received before making a final decision on any proposals.
“Our priority is to continue to work closely with schools to ensure our students are able to continue learning effectively during this time.” Contact us for assistance.
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