Seven schools to shut as teachers walk out

Thursday 14 March 2019

Seven secondary schools are to close as teachers strike over ‘unfair’ pay next week.

Grainville, Haute Vallée, Le Rocquier, Les Quennevais, Hautlieu, JCG and Victoria College will all shut for the day as members of teaching unions walk out.

It comes after the National Education Union (NEU) and NASUWT voted decisively to reject a ‘new’ pay deal put to them by the States Employment Board.

Pictured: Teachers are striking against real terms wage cuts, after being denied rises in line with increases of the cost of living.

Having declined to increase previously imposed pay offers for 2018 and 2019 in line with rises in the cost of living, the SEB bolted on an offer of an increase pegged to rises in inflation plus 1.3%.

But the unions voted down the offer “overwhelmingly”, instead opting to reinstate previously withdrawn strike action.

Parents are now being warned to make childcare arrangements on Tuesday 19 March while the NEU’s industrial action takes place.

JCG, meanwhile, invited students in years 11 to 13 to come to school to use its facilities for "personal study and revision".

Pictured: An example of the letters being sent out to parents today.

Further strikes involving NASUWT members are also scheduled for the following Tuesday, 26 March.

Parents from each of the affected schools were written to this afternoon, many of which used a templated letter, stating: "As you would expect, we are working closely with the Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills and it would appear that we will have no option but to close the school to all year groups on both occasions.

"As you know, the health, safety and wellbeing of our students is paramount."