Dame Allans Newcastle - Strikes

[Magpiefan]

Did any other DAS parents pick up a copy of the union leaflet about the strikes this morning. A lot more detail of the position than we have received from the school, and the deal being imposed on the teachers is terrible.

The school made out that teachers were asking for something extra when they just don’t want to be stuffed over by having their pension entitlement drastically cut – and fire and rehire, let’s see where that leads us. I’m paying them to give the best education possible to my children, by recruiting the best and well-motivated staff. If the school gets their way this will only end in teachers leaving.

Planning permission for the new sports facilities is readily available on the Newcastle planning portal – it looks like the teachers are going to be stuffed over to pay for it.

Can’t imagine what the atmosphere is like in staff room at the moment.
If you disagree with what is happening suggest you email the principal and governors to tell them. Seem like the teachers have reached the end of the line with negotiations, a bit of parent power might help.

There is a fantastic open letter going round from one of the parents. I hadn’t thought about it this way but it explains how staying in TPS would give the school an edge over the competition. I think I’d be reasonably happy with this approach if it means we keep and attract the best teachers. Don’t want to post the letter on here as its from a named parent but I suspect it’s doing the rounds of the WhatsApp groups. If you are a Dame Allans parent and haven’t seen it then try and get a copy as it just makes so much sense.

Why aren’t we getting financial info like this from the school but having to rely on parent experts to explain the options to us.

Just read the open letter to Principal and Board very informative and thought out piece. What we need now is a response and transparency from school management. The letter is indeed doing the rounds.

Open letter from a group of students

Re the letter from one of the parents, just makes so much sense when you look at the school remaining in TPS as an opportunity rather than a threat.

And more support from the students (above). Amazing!!

Apparently, the school has asked the unions to go to a meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss a revised offer, but there is a problem with this as the timing doesn’t show any real willingness to stop the strikes next week.

The offer must either already have been ratified by the governors or will be under consideration in order to call the meeting. Why then is this meeting not being held on Monday so that there is a chance of stopping any strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Is this a cunning plan to make sure the strikes go ahead in an attempt to reduce the high level of parental support?? Or is it a ploy to save money? If I use a conservative ball park package figure of £250 per day per teacher, by allowing 3 non paid strike days the school has a bonus £75k towards the new sports field. If the strikes continue after Easter the teachers will still be funding the new sports field, just not through their pension reduction.

Maybe I’m a bit of a cynic by asking these questions, but only the Governors know the answers.

If this meeting is on Tuesday evening it will also not be in time to stop the strike planned for Wednesday. And this means a major missed opportunity, the officials from both of the unions will be outside the school on Tuesday morning, if the governors can’t make Monday why don’t they invite the unions in for a cup of tea, a chocolate hob nob, and a friendly chat at 10am after the Tuesday morning picket?? You never know there might be a breakthrough that stops the Wednesday strike.

Does that show willingness to end this? It would if they tried it, even if any revised deal was still unacceptable.

The General Secretary of the NEU is said to be joining the picket line for the strikes next week – he’s responsible for 450, 000 members yet, as this is the worst pensions deal on offer at any independent school (not just now, but ever), it is understood that he’s cleared his diary to be in Newcastle to support the teachers at Dame Allans.

Meanwhile I reckon it’s now less than a week before all of the teachers are fired – I won’t say rehired, as that isn’t guaranteed. Do you still think you know who is teaching your child in September?

As a Dame Allan's parent I am really concerned about this whole issue. My children have always loved going to DA and adore their teachers. The staff are always so friendly and professional, and genuinely care about each child. That's the reason we chose DA rather than any of the state or independent alternatives in the North East. When my child was having a bit of a tough time and starting to struggle in some lessons the teachers spent extra time helping and supporting. Whenever one of the children has achieved something outside of school, the teachers are always interested and ready to offer praise. They don't have to do this. I'm sure it isn't in their job description. They're just kind and caring people who genuinely care about each individual student.

I just can't understand how the teachers we know so well can be the 'money grabbing, ruthless individuals' they are being made out to be. I am absolutely convinced there must be more to this whole fiasco then we, as parents, are being told. Surely the teachers we know and love wouldn't be going out on strike unless they genuinely thought they had no other options.

I know some parents have been writing to the Principal and Governors to get some answers. I'd be very interested to hear the response when (or should that be if) they get one. Maybe we need to stop and stand with the teachers on Tuesday's picket line to find out what is really going on.

@RealAzureViper the longer this goes on the more I think there's more to this than we are being told. What do you make of the letter to parents that came out from the school on Friday, it seemed a bit contrived. I have the same issues as you, the way the teachers are being portrayed doesn't tie in with my experience.

We have 3, totally unconnected to each other acquaintances, who have each been employed, supposedly as a subject specialist, but in fact as a rugby teacher/coach at DAS in the last 15 years. One was a PE and rugby specialist (and a misogynistic human being) , the other two are not PE specialists but both play rugby at quite a high level for the first team of successful clubs. Neither of these two is a good subject specialist but being a good rugby player was enough to be appointed, given extra free periods and a significant extra allowance. One (he's a lovely person) moved to another school and DAS contacted him and offered him a very well-paid 'write your own job description' role just to coach rugby- he turned it down as he had no wish to return under current leadership of the school and because behaviour has deteriorated so much amongst older boys involved in rugby.
DAS have a real thing about wanting to compete at rugby. It's posh-boy-laddish and the culture amongst the boys involved is poor.

At heart it is seedy capitalism of the kind seen in many firms where staff pensions and pay and conditions are eroded to pay for what owners prefer- higher CEO salaries, some big scheme or other, higher profits. People always matter less than money in private enterprise.

This is so disappointing to hear. It makes me so angry that such a great school with an amazing reputation can change so much in the space of a few years. They don't seem to have their priorities right anymore. I know we as a family (and I know many of my friends totally agree) chose the school for the family ethos. It is such a shame to hear that the school aren't prioritising that anymore. Even worse to hear that behaviour is deteriorating and going unchecked due to 'laddish culture' being accepted. My children hadn't mentioned much about this so it was quite shocking to hear.

Where are all the senior leaders? What are all those people doing about the behaviour around school and the negative changes that are happening? Is this being run like a school anymore or just a profit making business?

You are so true but I never imagined this would be the case in any school let alone Dame Allan's. I can't believe that anyone working in education could prioritise anything over the students education and happiness, but maybe you are correct. It would be incredibly disappointing to hear that the pay packets of a few had been fattened in detriment to everyone else. I do fear you may be right with your 'pay for what owners prefer' comment though. There has been so much building work over recent years it suggests that the schools are quite prosperous. However, since this pensions debacle all came out I am beginning to worry that the buildings have been at a much higher cost than purely financial.

I'm just being nebby but it would be interesting if someone could post a pic of the letter from the school?

The timing of the proposed talks sounds awful. I am sorry that you're going through this. Even if some new, acceptable, deal is agreed, it will take years to rebuild trust.

Absolutely agree. The longer this goes on the more bizarre it feels. It just doesn't all add up. Parents personal experiences of the lovely, dedicated teachers compared to the letters and comments we're receiving and reading just aren't comparable. The teachers I have met have always been more than willing to sit down and discuss anything brought to them so why would they be so ruthless and unwilling about this. Maybe its just something that matters that much to them, that they can't. Or maybe there is more going on.
I certainly feel like I'm being 'kept in the dark' about everything that is going on and my gut reaction is that something just isn't right behind those school gates.

Hope you can read this.

I got here through the link mentioned in the students' open letter to the school. I find it interesting that the students had to sign the letter anonymously, were they concerned about repercussions from the school management? This for me is not a positive sign of a supposed inclusive and open environment which allows and encourages free thinking and debate.

The more pressing issue of how to show support to our teachers. Some parents are planning on standing with the teachers outside the school gate on Tuesday. If more parents, who are available that morning (the teachers are only allowed to stand outside until 9am!) could do the same, it would hopefully send a strong message to the school governors and management. Please turn up 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Or send an email to the chair of governors, copying the head of school. I hope their inboxes get bombarded with letters from parents.

Thank you! It will be interesting to hear what the new proposed offer is.

For info, this is what NHSG (as part of GDST) ended up with after strikes. Teachers were given a choice to stay in TPS with a reduced pay-rise (not a pay-cut as such) or take this.

https://static.aviva.io/content/dam/document-library/corporate-pensions/gdst_flexible_pension_booklet_hyperlinked_aw.pdf

In case anyone has not seen the open letter circulated on Thursday.

Did the NHSG teachers strike? I wasn't aware of that.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/newcastle-high-school-girls-dispute-23401949

Oh gosh I really feel for staff. How nice that parents support!

I’m one of the students who wrote the letter and we have been told that engaging in conversation around the strikes will get us into trouble and get our teachers into trouble too. We had to keep the letter as anonymous and neutral as possible so we did not get ourselves or our teachers into trouble. They have been extremely vague about the whole thing. It’s not clear when or where we can discuss this situation. They can’t expect us to not voice support for the teachers.. or even to discuss what’s going on.

@MyZingyFish well done to you and your co-students for writing the open letter. You should be proud of yourselves, your parents must be.

I fully understand the need to be anonymous in a repressive environment and to think that this is a school we're talking about is very disappointing.

I can also understand why the teachers can't communicate with the students about the issues which directly affect them but discussions amongst the students shouldn't be stifled.

We're behind you and we stand with your teachers.

I’ve been following this thread, thanks for the insights.

I’ve found most of the teachers to be really passionate about their subject and caring towards the children.

The communication to parents about this has been poor. TheQ&A sent out felt like an afterthought to appease parents and didn’t address a lot of the fundamental questions. Why have 9 members of staff (some head of subjects) handed their notice in with more lined up to have interviews elsewhere? What has a governor resigned? Why have other schools managed to come to other arrangements and DA can’t/won’t

Wow, well done to you and your fellow students for standing up for your teachers despite the threat of getting into trouble hanging over your heads. I would hope that Dame Allan's is developing and nurturing their students as strong, determined individuals who speak up when something is wrong and stand up for what they know is right. You are the future leaders that this country (and the wider world) needs! Good on you 👏

I am going to DA on Tuesday morning before work. Hope many other parents will join too x