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.

Of course everyone’s fed up. Of course parents feel their children’s education is being disrupted.

Unfortunately in industrial negotiations, actual negotiation is often limited and resisted by employers until some element of pressure and force is applied.

The GDST refused to speak with the NEU and engage with their ideas for ages. When they have later suggested ideas and asked for industrial action to be called off, their ideas have been half-baked snd the terms not entirely clear, so the union cannot agree or concede until those are clearer. The terms they offer have loopholes and gaps, which teachers and the union cannot rely on to be fair and come to fruition in the way they hope they will…until the terms are effectively laid down on paper.

Of course the GDST hope that the whole thing pisses parents off. They hope teachers will feel bad about classes missing lessons. Both these things are happening. The GDST hopes these things make teachers crumble in their resolve to hold firm in asking for the protection of their pensions and conditions of work. Parents are interested usually in the short term. They think about the impact on their exam class kids right now and in the coming months. They think about fees next year. They don’t necessarily think about recruitment issues the school will face in 3-5 years time and longer. They don’t think about the teacher in retirement. But the teacher needs to think about that. Everyone has different priorities and at the moment they are in conflict.

And crucially, it’s an information war too isn’t it. GDST hope parents will only see it from one angle and don’t explain to parents all the info about costs, implications for recruitment and what negotiations they have and haven’t entered into with the teachers and unions across the dispute. Only the school can directly contact parents, so info received isn’t entirely balanced and neutral. Industrial action by its nature aims to disrupt….not for the sake of disrupting for its own sake…no one wants the girls’ education disrupted, but it’s a way if applying pressure to further negotiations and to pressure the other side to make concessions. By nature this is disruptive and unpleasant. But this is what is necessary when discussion isn’t moving things in the direction a side would like. Both sides are using tactics that are unpleasant and have knock-on effects for others, because the stakes are high and the results will be long term, and not just about the impact on the group of girls taking exams this summer.

It’s horribly messy and distressing for large numbers of people in different ways. The relationship between the staff and employer will be damaged hugely, no matter what the outcome. And these things can be long and protracted.

I’m so sorry for those teachers and also the girls and families at the schools.

Of course parents feel their children’s education is being disrupted.

I don't feel my daughter's education is being disrupted, it is being disrupted and in a year when she really doesn't need any more disruption.

I attended the NEU call @WombatChocolateso So I feel pretty comfortable that I heard both sides of the story and I think it was precisely after that call that teachers lost all parental support. The GDST might not have done things perfectly but the teachers were ill advised by the NEU. As for the comment that seeing a strike in real life is educational…. Honestly what a ridiculous comment from someone who clearly doesn’t have teenagers that haven’t been able to have a normal year at school for the last two years !

Yes, sometimes I wonder about Union messaging and who exactly they've got putting out their releases. Often it doesn't feel that they express the issues as clearly as they could, or in a way which will help people understand what the real issues and options are. They often seem militant and radical for the sake of it....which is a shame if it puts the backs up of people, rather than winning support.

Teachers generally don't like to strike and in the independent sector it's almost unheard of. I think it's been said it has been thenfirstbstrike ever at GDST schools. Teachers know it's disruptive and are genuinely hating doing it. But it feels like there's no alternative. GDST isn't going to concede any ground on pensions without a significant threat/action. Even then offer that teachers can remainninnthebpension until September 2023 (a small concession) has only been forced from them, reluctantly and due to the industrial action.

They will have ground they can and will give if pressured enough. The NEU has proposed that they hold off on lookimg at pension changes until the cost control change impacts to pensions in 2024 are known. So the NEU is willing to compromise and isn't saying the pensions must be held forever regardless. The fact remains that pension costs are known until at least 2024 and no change before then will take place....so there's an good argument that schools can wait until then.
GDST could agree with this and that will be the end of the action. Lomg term they won't be committed to giving the pension, and if the cost control raises costs significantly there will be more understanding the if pensions have to be withdrawn....the groundwork and prep will have been done.

To those who are parents (and I'm a fee paying parent) I'd say, what would you do if you were a teacher and you faced a significant drop to your retirement standard of living that you felt could be avoided. Wouldn't you too seek negotiation and only if it didn't get somewhere, strike to try and make the employer change heir mind or make concessions? Surely you would.

It is horrible for the students and parents. It's also horrible for staff for whom relations with the GDST and often management is going to be severely damaged. Yes, teachers and their union could back down and call off the strike. Equally, the GDST could agree to what seem like reasonable requests. Both sides have the ability to end this...it isn't just the teachers who can do this, but somehow they get seen as the baddies.

I wonder too what the teaching might be like innthebyears after a school is forced out of the pension scheme, and the teachers feel betrayed and abused. Lots will leave, and those remaining won't exactly feel positive about their place of work will they. What impact is that going to have on the education parents are paying for?

I'd say, that if schools can afford to remain or afford to remain for at least the short to medium term, they really should. Cost savings,if really necessary, should be made elsewhere should be made first. The staff really is the key school asset, however nice swanky buildings might be. That's the question isn't it....can schools afford to remain in until 2024 and possibly beyond?

To those who are parents (and I'm a fee paying parent) I'd say, what would you do if you were a teacher and you faced a significant drop to your retirement standard of living that you felt could be avoided.

Equally, what would you do if your child's education was being severely impacted in a year that is extremely important to their future? Disruption and stress that you felt could be avoided? Would you be thinking "oh, it doesn't matter if my child drops grades that mean she can't do the A levels she wants at the school she wants..."

No, you wouldn't.

To be clear, I am angry with both sides.

The biggest losers here are the pupils of the GDST schools. There has been an email this evening from Cheryl Giovanni stating that strikes have been suspended for now and that both parties have agreed to further discussion. She also says that ‘ things will get back to normal very quickly’. Who is she trying to kid. There is still no resolution. It’s been a shambles all round.

SoupDragon, no of course you don't think it doesn't matter. It does matter for your child and the others impacted too. It's in everyone's interests to get this resolved quickly and not have an ongoing, protracted battle.

It's down to both sides (GDST and the teachers' union) to solve this.

Parents and students are ultimately bystanders in this aren't they. Both the GDST and the teachers are very mindful of the students and their parents. GDST of course wants to keep teaching the girls, protect its reputation and ensure numbers into the future. They want to remain viable and popular. The teachers are always interested in their pupils. They know from first hand experience how disrupted the last couple of years have been and how we are close to exams and that these matter hugely for the next stage of each student. And they are balancing that against their own interests, which they cannot just ignore....and no-one would expect them to surely.

Teachers will want to be back in the classroom as fast as possible. They are not militants radicals who get a kick out of being in strike or challenging their employers. Striking is deeply disturbing to the vast majority and the sooner this is over and this horrible phase finished, the easier they will feel. They honestly would much rather be teaching their classes and preparing them for exams than being on strike and going through this protracted and unpleasant dispute. The idea that parents and students are feeling resentful will be understood and deeply unsettling for the vast majority. But those feelings and reasons cannot and should not stop them taking the action they are, because their longer term loyalty needs to be to their own retirement and sacrificing the chance to protect it, in order to help students get more class time this year, just can't be the way the balance tips. If it did tip in that direction, it would mean ultimately teachers valued and prioritised these few days of lessons above their own families and long retirements. I think most people would see that would be a sacrifice too far.

I totally understand why parents will be worried, furious, resentful and want it all over. I have DC taking exams too this year in independent schools, and I am hugely relieved their schools are not involved in this. If they were, I too would feel worried about the impact. As a parent, of course you feel like that. You want it over as soon as possible. At some point, one side will accept the deal offered by the other. That's when it will end. GDST could accept what the NEU has offered in terms of waiting until 2024 to reasses.. The NEU could accept the withdrawal from the pension. Either of those actions will end the strike.

Some parents are very cross with the teachers. Are they cross with the GDST too? This is a 2-sided dispute.

I really hope for everyone that it can be resolved soon, as the stress for all involved and affected is terrible. It's the nature of industrial disputes isn't it, it's never pretty and it always leaves lasting scars. I fully sympathise with your position, but I do feel that expecting the teachers to accept the loss of their pensions and to not fight for them, so that current students get all their lessons, just isn't a realistic ask. Teachers usually go above and beyond for their students and willngly do it, but their students are not the only thing in their lives and it is right that they prioritise protecting their retirement and pension and own family future, when it is under attack.

I spoke to DD’s new gdst school today. We went for a tour and meeting and most teachers were in school by the look of it. They explained the following to me:
Gdst launched a consultation with the Unions during which time the Unions refused to engage or have talks unless there was the original pension kept - they would not negotiate or consult on the pensions that gdst offered. They announced strikes before the 14 weeks was over, which I think is unforgivable of the unions . Then they got to the end of the consultation and announced loads more strikes and suddenly wanted to negotiate on the new pensions! This seems utterly crazy and I am reassured that gdst have not acted in any bad faith way. I think the unions have.

I wouldn't trust either side to be telling the truth about the situation. The communication reproduced up thread from NEU contains some clear lies, as do previous communications from the union. I wouldn't trust GDST's version of the truth either, although, not being party to the negotiations, I don't have any way of identifying any untruths in their statements. The truth probably lies somewhere between the two.

@1forward2back I'm sure there is a middle ground somewhere. If course the school will tell you they haven't done anything wrong but 'firing and rehiring' and everything else going on is not a common thing to happen in teaching and it's no wonder staff are unhappy.

I had DC at a GDST school until last year and the finances of this particular, more rural one are certainly not as healthy as they'd like to pretend. They even had to move to one site from two and ended up losing a significant number of pupils through their inept and insensitive communication, all the time pretending that this was exciting for the school. Staff lost their jobs. Hardly any girls in some of the younger year groups (literally a handful in some) and marketing working in overdrive. Such a shame. So all is not rosy at all their schools, especially those who have to work hard to recruit girls in areas of lower population density.

My DC had a great education there until the school restructured but I have learned that they are masters (mistresses?!) of 'spin' and I would take some of what they say with a pinch of salt.

Oh I agree @prh47bridge there is always his truth, her truth and THE truth! In everything!

[quote littlemisslozza]@1forward2back I'm sure there is a middle ground somewhere. If course the school will tell you they haven't done anything wrong but 'firing and rehiring' and everything else going on is not a common thing to happen in teaching and it's no wonder staff are unhappy.

I had DC at a GDST school until last year and the finances of this particular, more rural one are certainly not as healthy as they'd like to pretend. They even had to move to one site from two and ended up losing a significant number of pupils through their inept and insensitive communication, all the time pretending that this was exciting for the school. Staff lost their jobs. Hardly any girls in some of the younger year groups (literally a handful in some) and marketing working in overdrive. Such a shame. So all is not rosy at all their schools, especially those who have to work hard to recruit girls in areas of lower population density.

My DC had a great education there until the school restructured but I have learned that they are masters (mistresses?!) of 'spin' and I would take some of what they say with a pinch of salt.[/quote]
This “Fire and rehire” communication is an emotive Union tagline.

In order to change the terms of a contract (ie. Change of pension, employees have to agree to a new contractual terms. It’s a simple procedural and contractual necessity. The point is, if the teachers refuse the terms, they will be effectively choosing to make themselves unemployed.

The NEU don’t care about teachers or pupils, they care about protecting the TPS - the fewer members there are the less sustainable TPS becomes and the greater the risk that more independents leave AND the state less prepared to prop it up as it increasingly becomes as unaffordable as most final salary type pensions have been found to be.

@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.

Perhaps because they have a legal duty to maintain the sustainability of the charity and manage financial risks to be ensure they are able to offer a good quality education for Girls across the country.

"Fire and rehire" was actually spelt out as a possibility in the paperwork when I went through a similar negotiation (not GDST). It's not an "emotive union tagline". It's something schools are actually doing (or threatening to do) up and down the country . It's just most of them have had the nous to keep it out of the press.

Schools are using it as a threat. Sign or this will happen. The government themselves have said this is not OK.

Pretty unpleasant behaviour from a charity towards largely female staff.

commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2021-0066/ information about 'fire and rehire' including discussion about whether it constitutes unfair dismissal.

I'll tell you what's actually "emotive": sitting in meetings where experienced teaching colleagues weep because they're the main breadwinner and won't be able to support their families in retirement on the new-style pensions / colleagues with chronic illnesses realise they will no longer have the option of ill-health retirement.

These are the people who are teaching your children.

I'll tell you what else is "emotive". Girls suffering from stress and anxiety and in floods of tears about their exams. This is their future that these people are playing with.

Neither side (union/trustees) appears to give a shit about these girls.

@Phineyj

commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2021-0066/ information about 'fire and rehire' including discussion about whether it constitutes unfair dismissal.

I'll tell you what's actually "emotive": sitting in meetings where experienced teaching colleagues weep because they're the main breadwinner and won't be able to support their families in retirement on the new-style pensions / colleagues with chronic illnesses realise they will no longer have the option of ill-health retirement.

These are the people who are teaching your children.

The change of pension terms is rife in other industries, I’ve never seen anyone in a company weep at a change, granted, they get a bit pissed off but in many areas this kind of change is not uncommon.

There are other employers. If you don’t like the terms being offered, then you can choose an alternative employer?

One question I would ask. if you have been in the scheme this far, haven’t you already banked however many years of your final salary? So you don’t lose that? The only change would be the switch to DC for the latter part of your years employment in a very generous employer contribution?
No-one has shared any of the real details to be able to evaluate.

@Phineyj

commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2021-0066/ information about 'fire and rehire' including discussion about whether it constitutes unfair dismissal.

I'll tell you what's actually "emotive": sitting in meetings where experienced teaching colleagues weep because they're the main breadwinner and won't be able to support their families in retirement on the new-style pensions / colleagues with chronic illnesses realise they will no longer have the option of ill-health retirement.

These are the people who are teaching your children.

This commons article relates to unscrupulous practices for instance, where where employers fail to consult or use the practice to artificially drive staff reductions rather than severance.

The GDST have had a very lengthy period for consultation. It has no will to fire you, but needs to make individual contractual changes in order to change the pension.

It is emotive language and doesn’t reflect the reality of what is happening. You simply don’t like the change and feel you will be worse off.

I think it’s disappointing to hear people suggest the teachers don’t give a shit about their students.

I’d hope that people have a sense of the hours teachers work in term time, and the fact that they often go above and beyond for individual pupils - especially in the independent sector - which of course is what parents pay for - but in terms of an individual member of staff, surely there has to be a limit to that expectation - what do people expect the individual teacher to actually provide in terms of hours per week? Is 50 enough, or 60 or 70?

Teachers do care about the students - in terms of their academic outcomes and what these open ir close doors to, and about their pastoral well-being. But they also care about their own families and retirement. And rightly so, when the latter is threatened, and choices have to be made, they choose to protect their own family future and not to sacrifice that for the children they teach. How could anyone expect otherwise? They make sacrifices (and choose to do so willingly) for the children they teach all the time, but this isn’t limitless and to suggest they don’t give a shit, unless they always put the students they teach above everything else in their own lives, is just ridiculous.

How sad this all is; parents developing a sense of rage and hatred towards the teachers, employer and employee tension, and students who are further impacted.

I don’t think I’d want to be in a GDST school as a pupil, parent or teacher in the next few years. Whatever the outcome of all this, the damage and consequences of what’s happening is going to be evident in various forms for many years to come.

I care about my students (and my school actually). I also care about my own future and my family's.

My school don't need to care about my future and my family's. That's not their job. They only need to be a reasonable employer (to keep staff) and not break the law.

Both parties are thinking long term (or should be) but about different things. It's a classic conflict.

This is a slightly silly discussion in the context of the lack of supply of teachers in the UK coupled with the difficulty of overseas recruitment.

If there were plenty of teachers to recruit, worsening pay and conditions would make a little more sense.

Of course any teacher has the option to move to a TPS school if that's a deal breaker for them. However, a pension consultation period of 60 days (the minimum required) is not long enough to change job when you are on a term's notice. Teaching is different to other occupations in that regard (and many others).

Girls being in floods of tears about exams is more of a perennial thing than specific to this situation.

I think it's a shame that the UK system is so exam-focused (it's really unusual internationally to have two sets of public exams at 16 and at 18) but I don't think you'll find it was teachers pushed the system in that direction.

If we had continuous assessment any interruption to education, for whatever reason, would be much less of an issue.