GDST Trustees

[Common]

How has the GDST Board of Trustees managed to create the first strike by staff in 149 years?

Cheryl Giovannoni and her board have treated a unique educational institution in the UK based on values, ideals and morals like a business because they fundamentally fail to comprehend the ethos of service that powers the GDST.

www.agbis.org.uk/advice-services/becoming-a-governor.html

@Phineyj

I asked about negotiation up thread. Other schools have compromised on this issue by going to conditional phased withdrawal (teachers can choose to pay the extra % themselves IF employers' TPS contributions go up in 2024), or by closing TPS to new entrants. There's also the option to wait and see what the actual increase will be. The compromise USS (the university scheme) came up with was lower earners stay in the DB scheme while higher earners join the DC (not sure of details and I don't think it's possible with TPS).

The response from other posters was that GDST would not consider compromise options, hence the strike. But there are compromise options.

No teacher would want to not teach because the problem lands back with the teacher who then hasn't covered enough - this is why it's easier to teach when ill/off with Covid.

USS pension scheme is in a big mess. Currently earning below about £60,000 go into the defined benefit scheme and above a defined contribution. They are looking at reducing it to £40,000, which in University terms, if you are a junior lecturer, your entire pension is in defined benefit. A more senior lecturer would then be in defined contribution for some of their pension. About 10 years ago, there were changes and Oxford threatened to come out altogether and have their own scheme. Oxford are a significant contributor to the scheme, but one of the few who could survive on their own. No-one thought that Oxford would fail to attract the best staff, but equally the higher education sector is full of staff who have limited job security and half the staff are not in uss, staff in support roles are in their own individual university scheme.

USS staff are currently on a 5 day strike over pensions

Oh yes, USS is certainly a dog's breakfast. But there are no good solutions here, only a range of imperfect ones.

Mulling it all over a bit more - so would teachers still want to remain in the TPS if your contributions rose to say 20% after the next valuation? There must be a point at which you would think it was too expensive?

@CiderWithLizzie

Mulling it all over a bit more - so would teachers still want to remain in the TPS if your contributions rose to say 20% after the next valuation? There must be a point at which you would think it was too expensive?

Yes because it would be the same if we were in the state sector.

@CiderWithLizzie

Mulling it all over a bit more - so would teachers still want to remain in the TPS if your contributions rose to say 20% after the next valuation? There must be a point at which you would think it was too expensive?

Teachers in the state sector went on strike last time changes to the TPS including an increase in contributions was proposed. I remember it well as a number of teachers posted on here about it. It became apparent that some of the unions were lying to their members, claiming, for example, that the NAO had said public sector pensions were affordable and sustainable. The NAO had said no such thing. There were a number of other false claims.

I don't blame unions for wanting to defend their members benefits. However, I don't think they should lie to members to persuade them to strike.

Yes, that is the point of conditional phased withdrawal, one of the compromises. It is left up to the member to decide how much is too much, rather than the decision being made for then.

www.tes.com/magazine/news/secondary/strike-hit-private-school-group-offers-pension-scheme-extension there seems to be some movement.

Open letter to any GDST parents

I was really sympathetic in the beginning. I think it's important to have the right to strike. Totally lost sympathy now. My child in year 9 hasn't had a normal year since she started. Lots of other parents are losing patience now too.

Just to make you aware that other schools have managed to settle with staff without anything being in the media. I hope you recognise the management's role in this debacle, previous poster.

The statement that GDST has not demonstrated a financial need for these proposals, along with previous statements from NEU, show that they do not understand (or are deliberately misrepresenting) the charity's accounts. GDST is running an operating deficit of around £2M a year on unrestricted funds. The suggestions the union has made publicly have either failed to recognise that at all or have addressed the wrong problem - making savings that wouldn't affect the unrestricted funds. It is clear from their accounts that GDST need to make savings. I'm not saying that teachers' pensions is the right way to do it. There may be better options. But they need to eliminate the operating deficit. The paragraph on page 2 that states GDST finances are healthy is wrong. They aren't. This and other statements by NEU appear to be based on a failure to understand that restricted funds are just that - restricted. The trustees cannot legally use restricted funds to support teachers' pensions.

I'm also puzzled by the paragraph on the second page suggesting that an increased employee contribution will impact career average salaries. As far as I can see, TPS use the pensionable income before pension contributions are deducted, which means the level of employee contributions makes no difference.

I'm really pissed off with it now. My Y11 daughter has been completely screwed over with this on top of all the Covid disruptions. Her future depends so much on the exams this summer and she can ill afford this lack of teaching.

I think that open letter from the NEU is somewhat exasperating.

Private sector employees across any industry usually have much lower employer contribution than near 24% - you're lucky if you get 12%. Many less than that. Also there are not many sectors (the railways maybe) where private sector employees get access to public pensions like this.

I feel GDST have come to the table. They've given staff an option to stay within the TPS (I'm sure with conditions attached that I'm not privy to nor mentioned in the GDST email outlining this to parents) or joining the GDST pension with 20% contributions and also new contacts - this is very common practice in the private sector eg after IF35 law changes.

Let's be honest, the NEU are probably tutting their heads thinking that 'wealthy' parents can just swallow a considerable fee hike to cover this. The politics of the NEU is to the left so they are unlikely to be in any way comfortable with fee paying schools ideologically.

Agree with PP - my DD is yr 9 and yet to have a normal academic year in secondary.

Update. Over 1000 teachers in an NEU meeting have voted overwhelmingly tonight for a temporary suspension of strike action if the GDST agree to enter into dispute resolution with ACAS. GDST said they would consider it but have not said they will. Regretfully that means that there will be strike action tomorrow. Many teachers are very very torn on this. I would put it to you that over 1500 teachers striking may well indicate this is a very serious matter and no teacher is taking this lightly. Negotiations today progressed in a couple of areas but the NEU is seeking clarification on last minute figures given during the negotiation and very woolly wording.

This is hugely disappointing for everyone but may I suggest that you direct your ire at the GDST rather than those who are standing up for their contractual rights and protecting their futures. Pay is now behind the state sector and the game playing by the GDST will mean that many staff will be looking to leave. It is also interesting that some comments on social media have been deeply misogynistic which is a bit ironic for a girls' school. Also remember that staff have no methods of communicating with parents as they will face disciplinary proceedings whereas the GDST and heads are free to send whichever message they wish to feed parents. There are two sides.

I'm sick of it now too. I would LOVE a 24% contribution.

A lot of the teachers were back today. I'm annoyed that the union is still not giving way.

They've lost my support I'm afraid.

There are two sides.

Three. Girls in exam years are the ones who will suffer.

Surprised this is still going on. There is a union who are militant and do not want private schools and there is a charity running schools to try to be successful in future. Even the most militant of unions like the tube drivers totally suspend their strikes when they are in talks. It seems the teacher union do not - this is only having a bad impact on the long term future of these schools and although I’m not a parent there yet, I would have no sympathy when I am

Thanks for the update. Also fed up as a parent now although my DD is not exam year (for which I know I am lucky). Ironically work at a uni so have been dealing with the USS strikes and impact on teaching (I am not in UCU). Strikes everywhere. Updates from our GDST school have not been great IMO.

The union are acting for their members. 97% voted for suspension of strike action. At the moment the union is trying to seek clarity on specifics on a very complex matter (pensions are not easy). Once those have been provided then it will all be over. GDST have conceeded that the TPS can remain but with teachers making contributions of 4% themselves. This was suggested a long time ago by staff directly to the GDST. They were told that wasn't possible. It is such a shame that parents cannot get the full story and completely understandable that exam years are worried. When you are a teacher you eat, breathe, live your exam classes. You go through that year after year caring about those students in a way. That non teachers don't really understand. However, that doesn't keep teachers warm and fed when they are old. This action would not be taken unless there was no other option. Teachers also find it offecsive that people think they are so thick as to be somehow contolled by a union. This is a marketing ploy coming from head office.

Have never heard of anyone striking when they are in talks. but we have just had confirmation that the strike is going ahead again tomorrow! Am afraid the GDST teachers have lost support of most of the parents I have spoken to not only for striking when most of their request have been met but also for their methods of striking. Chanting and singing into megaphones and blocking the girls when they are trying to get into school. The girls are not at fault and probably barely understand what you are striking about but they are the ones having to face the pickets every morning!

I'd say that was educational in the broadest sense.

(Seeing a strike in action).

@Phineyj

I'd say that was educational in the broadest sense.

I'd rather my daughter was receiving an education that will get her through her GCSEs.