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.

@Phineyj

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).

“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.”

So why not work a notice term with a very generous alternative pension whilst you apply for other roles within the TPS in the meantime. The financial impact of a term in. The scheme of pension terms is likely negligible?

I am really angry that some people are rubbishing the good reputation of some excellent schools and GDST for doing what they think is necessary to maintain the ability to continue to offer a good quality education (which they have been doing), whilst holding the children and their parents hostage, on something that is ultimately a personal choice for teachers to accept or move.

Make no mistake, we can all see the Unions use deliberate scare tactics for parents and attempts to put other teachers off the school in future. Their only interest is the stability of the entire TPS for the whole teaching community and nothing more.

That's it. Personal choice. Nailed the neoliberal agenda in a nutshell.

Schools and education are a collective endeavour. That's why the neoliberal agenda is so alien to most teachers.

Especially coming out of two years when it's all been about acting for the greater good.

Yes personal choice.

There will be plenty more tough decisions like this needed over the next few years. The government will not be propping up the private sector pensions and the true state of public pensions is a house of cards.

iea.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/DP103_Great-British-Rake-Off_web.pdf

Haha. That article is from the IEA, a right-wing economic think tank which is strongly against government intervention in the economy. There are all kinds of things they question which include government provision of education and health, and their views on taxation and public finances are….shall we say ..niche! No-one would ever claim they were reporting in a balanced way!

But as has been said, one-sided reporting of events is the nature of this kind of debate. It’s very hard for people to get access to balanced and neutral reporting, so they can make an informed choice for themselves.

The IEA are indeed very right wing (no offence to their work; a read of their publications can be quite refreshing if you've been bingeing The Guardian and they provide free teacher seminars with lunch). Fun fact about the IEA: they were set up on the profits from battery chicken farming. And you don't get much more free market than that.

How did I know you would pick up on the fact the it is an IEA publication. You do realise that opinion is one thing, facts are another?

The fact is, that independent schools are going to have to prop up the TPS more and more. Unions know the more people leave the TPS the weaker its position becomes and there is a risk like in other areas that they will change it across the sector - and based on the above white paper, you can see why. The pandemic was tough on everyone. The aftermath of this and the situation in Ukraine will be even tougher.

If you are so against neoliberalism, why not choose to teach at a tough inner city state school to show your dedication to the profession and keep your TPS.

Why would I want to show that kind of dedication to a profession that so many (including the government), hold in such low regard? Besides, this debate is not about my personal political beliefs (nor have I said what they are).

People who think teachers are held in low regard, tend to be teachers.

😁 if we're playing Teacher Bingo, how about 'Those who can't, teach'?

Anyway, back to the pensions...

As a teacher at a different independent school, I must say this whole thing has made the GDST untouchable for me, and doubtless many other teachers. It's not just about pulling out of the TPS, I understand there's precedent for that, but the murky, dishonest way leadership have treated staff. Lots and lots of vacancies in GDST schools at the moment which speaks volumes.

Sorry but I sense a large dollop of BS.

As a teacher in another independent, how exactly would you know all the details of how the GDST has conducted this consultation
Unless you are:

A) In some way connected to the situation, in which case you have bias and should be honest about that

B) you are choosing to believing solely one side of the communications.

I would stop trying to stir the pot. I’m pretty sure that many other independents will be following this, especially after the government have hinted at imminent tax rises. Propping up the TPS for a load of privileged private schools wouldn’t be a particularly good look would it?

@fatarse

Sorry but I sense a large dollop of BS.

As a teacher in another independent, how exactly would you know all the details of how the GDST has conducted this consultation
Unless you are:

A) In some way connected to the situation, in which case you have bias and should be honest about that

B) you are choosing to believing solely one side of the communications.

I would stop trying to stir the pot. I’m pretty sure that many other independents will be following this, especially after the government have hinted at imminent tax rises. Propping up the TPS for a load of privileged private schools wouldn’t be a particularly good look would it?

Crikey I've riled you up haven't I!?

I teach in a different independent chain which is already out of the TPS, or takes out its new acquisitions which are still in. I have no connection to the GDST apart from a colleague whose family member works there who has been sharing some of the goings on and the shady ways of their management. I also live near a GDST school but that's where the involvement ends.

With no TPS at my current school, I won't return after maternity leave. I have no plans to stay long term. The good salary helped me get a mortgage, to be fair. My plan is to return to state part time once I have a family, or one of the independent schools still in (they advertise it quite clearly if they are, generally).

I also always browse TES (rightmove for teachers) and have noticed Sydenham and one of Bromley or Croydon advertising for heads, and loads of teacher or HoD jobs in GDST schools across London. It's not surprising is it? I imagine most people have their eye on the door, or otherwise one eye up the greasy pole to HoD or SLT.

Yeah sure, maybe private schools shouldn't have access to a public pension. But as you will see in numerous Staffroom threads on mumsnet, not being in the TPS makes a huge difference. So no, not invested in the GDST at all. Invested in my own career, pension, salary, benefits etc. They aren't great in teaching at the moment.

I'm not riled, You seem to have an agenda, to put staff and pupil applicants off GDST and damage its reputation. Don't you think you should be a little more responsible for the sake of the children at such schools?

It sounds to me like you are listening to one side of the argument with "gossip" from another teacher colleague about how the GDST has or hasn't conducted a consultation. I frankly doubt either side has conducted themselves in a flawless manner.

Clearly your interest is in the retention of the TPS from your post. Are you a member of the NEU?

I have also looked at Independent schools (some of the best in the country) near to us. All have an entirely similar number of vacancies to current ones at GDST schools.

Article in TES two days ago:

*Now, teachers have won the right to stay in the TPS, the threat of "fire and rehire" practices have been withdrawn and an enhanced pay offer has been made for all staff, teachers and support staff, following talks mediated by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), the union said today.

It said that, as a result of the decision, staff would be ending strike action and returning to the classroom.

But, the NEU added that it remains concerned about proposals to close the TPS scheme to new teachers - as only current teachers will remain on the scheme - and also said that there was "significant work" to be done to try and rebuild the staff's trust and confidence in their employer.

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU teaching union, said: "NEU members of the GDST should be proud of the solidarity, resolution and spirit they have shown throughout this dispute.

"In standing up for their rights they were forced to take unprecedented and historic strike action to defend their pensions.*

Good for them. I hope that yesterday's P&O story will open more people's eyes to the reality of fire and rehire. It should be illegal, but when Labour tried to make it so last year the Tories voted against the proposal.

It should be illegal, but when Labour tried to make it so last year the Tories voted against the proposal.

Labour did not try to make it so. Barry Gardiner, who introduced the private member's bill in question, was clear that his bill would not ban the practice. All it would have done is require businesses to consult meaningfully. Since P&O ignored the existing legal requirement to consult before redundancies, I am sure they would have ignored the consultation requirements of this bill if it had become law.

That's really all you took from my post with the fantastic news that the teachers managed to save their pensions ?

I bet Natalie Elphicke (MP for Dover) was wishing she'd voted in favour of the bill when she tried to join in on the picket line yesterday. There's brilliant footage on Twitter on her being called out on her hypocrisy.

@ElegantPuma

That's really all you took from my post with the fantastic news that the teachers managed to save their pensions ?

I bet Natalie Elphicke (MP for Dover) was wishing she'd voted in favour of the bill when she tried to join in on the picket line yesterday. There's brilliant footage on Twitter on her being called out on her hypocrisy.

No, it isn't all I took from your post. I am glad the dispute has been settled and that the teachers are happy with the agreement.

I would like to see fire and rehire stopped. Barry Gardiner's bill would have been completely ineffective in achieving that. It was a typical opposition move - proposing a bill that won't do what is claimed and criticising the government for not supporting it. I say "opposition" rather than "Labour" because the Tories do the same when they are in opposition.

@fatarse

I'm not riled, You seem to have an agenda, to put staff and pupil applicants off GDST and damage its reputation. Don't you think you should be a little more responsible for the sake of the children at such schools?

It sounds to me like you are listening to one side of the argument with "gossip" from another teacher colleague about how the GDST has or hasn't conducted a consultation. I frankly doubt either side has conducted themselves in a flawless manner.

Clearly your interest is in the retention of the TPS from your post. Are you a member of the NEU?

I have also looked at Independent schools (some of the best in the country) near to us. All have an entirely similar number of vacancies to current ones at GDST schools.

NASUWT actually. I didn't like how the NEU handled Covid, personally.

My only intention was to point out the reputational damage to GDST and point out, as a teacher, how what has taken place may shape recruitment moving forward. Of course I'm in favour of the TPS - I am currently worse off not in it. It's no different to any other industry - people talk and know where to avoid. Yes, many do have agendas on this forum - my current school group use a multitude of fake accounts to promote their schools. And what nonsense about other independent school vacancies being comparable. People are weighing up their options and it's obvious why.

The teachers at Pocklington School (SE of York) are the latest to strike over withdrawal from TPS and fire & rehire. Very famous, old school attended by William Wilberforce.

I absolutely agree that the GDST is running like a corporate business, rather than a "family" run group of schools. I took my daughter out - best thing I did.

@rddking May I ask which one she was at and where she will now go?

Royal high bath and she joined to a state school due to exam boards - she absolutely loved it and teaching exemplary. Best move ever.

I visited so many schools this year including few GDST schools my daughter and I really liked the behaviour of the girls, facilities and also environment of the all the GDST schools.

Please just read all their policies and procedures. I’ve had a very bad experience with the school, governors and trustees.

I did actually@rddking I just saw that you also made complain about your sons independent school in 2016? May i learn if your talking about whole independent achools or GDST only?