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Primary education

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Original poster

Tuesdays strike

62 replies

Sopster · 24/09/2013 21:20

Bit on the bus behind here (have had a v stressful few days!) BUT will all schools most likely be striking on Tuesday? Not had any communication from ours at the moment. Thanks for any info from anyone better informed than me!!

OP posts:

clam · 25/09/2013 23:19

superiorcat: the strike is Tuesday, not Monday.
Oddboots, how could the school tell you they "probably" wouldn't be affected by a strike? Especially if it now turns out they are closing - meaning they have a significant number of teachers in the relevant unions.

SuperiorCat · 25/09/2013 23:32

Thanks Clam - bad sentence construction on my part - we received a letter on Monday saying it might happen then a text to say it was happening.

juniper9 · 26/09/2013 10:57

Teachers don't have to declare if they are striking or not until the day. Most do anyway because, despite what the media likes to portray, they don't want to cause too much inconvenience.

Technically if a teacher doesn't strike but their school closes then they have to report to the LA and can be reassigned to a different school for the day, assuming they're not covering a striking teacher by doing so.

I know strike days are massively inconvenient to parents, but teachers, as a general rule, don't want to disrupt the education of the children- we care about their futures too much. It really is a last resort. And one that gove just seems to mock, unfortunately.

WidowWadman · 26/09/2013 20:34

We had a letter today confirming that they won't be closed. Rather relieved.

Ihatespiders · 26/09/2013 23:55

Teachers at my school are very much undecided. We do not have to actually decide until the day itself!

We feel strongly about the issues, and want to make our feelings known, but striking is a major hassle and our Head takes a dim view of strikers. As a parent I totally understand how people feel when schools are closed.

I feel that we will be in, but we'll do work that does not need marking ("On your whiteboards...") and will go home promptly at 3.30.

Feenie · 27/09/2013 06:50

And then I hope you will change your union, since you chose not to support them or your colleagues in other schools.

CaptainSweatPants · 27/09/2013 06:57

Ihatespiders - if you're not striking you'll get paid that day so I'd expect you to do a normal days teaching to be honest & the same afterschool prep you'd usually do!

Either strike or don't, not a half assed effort!

chosenone · 27/09/2013 07:01

Those of you pissed off and inconvenienced please do write / e mail your MP , it is the government after all we are wanting to recognise the action. Gove may make statements describing us as 'letting children down ' etc but we are against him letting children down. Please remember mass undiscussed changes to the curriculum, unqualified people teaching long term, changes to the English GCSE after they have sat it ! Academies wont be closed, Unions are not recognised and they can do whatever they want ! Teacher's honestly want the best for students that is why we are doing this. There will probably be a day of action before Christmas too.

WidowWadman · 27/09/2013 07:31

What are the actual demands teachers are striking for? Genuine question, not goading.

Redlocks30 · 27/09/2013 07:35

I hate spiders-what a crap, half-arsed effort?! Either strike or leave your union and don't. Please don't use it as an excuse for being a lazy teacher who can't be bothered to mark anything!

onetiredmummy · 27/09/2013 10:37

I see what spider means, for reasons of her own she will not be striking but will be showing solidarity with the strikers in her own way.

Its not just strike or not, its not that black or white particularly if you have a head who is likely to disapprove of a teacher striking. Every teacher should demonstrate their feelings in their own way & not be pressured into a herd mentality.

I fully support the strikes, even though yes it is a massive inconvenience as a parent. Having had my private sector pensions fucked with many times under the guise of 'new & improved' I have often wished my industry (ironic that its the pension industry!) could strike & I urge those that can to do so. But if somebody wishes not to strike, then that should be respected as well & I wouldn't think any less of them for doing so. It should be a personal decision.

Feenie · 27/09/2013 10:47

Bollocks - it you choose not to support your union's action, join one which represents your views more accurately. The ATL, for example.

Cloudminnow · 27/09/2013 11:02

Onetiredmummy, by behaving like a lazy teacher on the day of the strike Ihatespiders is in no way showing any solidarity! In fact she is totally undermining the strike. Either she agrees with the government on the issues being disputed or she doesn't. If she shares the views of her union she should be striking or she should leave the union, and get on with working hard for her pupils and not complain about the issues she claims to feel strongly about.

BrigitBigKnickers · 27/09/2013 11:21

DDs school is open but a lot of teachers aren't in. The children are just being babysat in the big hall where the parents have to take them in but no teaching will be happening

Pretty sure that is not allowed. For one thing it is unlikely to satisfy the appropriate adult child ratios and secondly heads teachers are not allowed to request non- striking teachers cover those who don't come in- which one would assume is happening if they are all in the hall.

Lavendersbluedillydilly1969 · 27/09/2013 17:14

DDs school is open all day for private study so students will go in with books or homework. Also told to bring pe kits as will be opportunity to do sports.
DSs school also open except for years 3 and 4.
Very impressed by schools intentions to remain open in spite of the strike.

Redlocks30 · 27/09/2013 17:33

I didn't think heads were allowed to do this?

CaptainSweatPants · 27/09/2013 17:44

Our school always stays open
They use ta's & senior staff teaching team
I guess they don't cover lessons, just organise other activities

Adikia · 27/09/2013 17:48

Will schools let you know if they will be closed? I don't think I could deal with DD's tantrum if I take her in only to find it's closed!

drivinmecrazy · 27/09/2013 17:50

Just out of curiosity, what will striking teachers be doing on Tuesday? Are there any marches planned?

Janek · 27/09/2013 17:55

There's one in birmingham.

Feenie · 27/09/2013 18:01

And in Leeds and Sheffield too

Hulababy · 27/09/2013 18:02

drivinmecrazy - several of our teachers are going to the rally in town. They will also all end up doing planning/marking at home - they all did last time.

CaptainSweatPants I'm a HLTA these days but we've been told we can't cover the striking teachers, regardless of lesson or activities done. Also - I'm not allowed to rearrange the striking teacher's PPA time (part of my job is PPA cover) to a different time - ie swap it with a non striking teacher's PPA.

nameuschangeus · 27/09/2013 18:07

At least parents will be able to charge the government £60 per parent per child for the children not being in school due to the strike, just as if the situation were reversed

If all agents did this in support of the teachers I bet Mr Gove would sit up and listen.

juniper9 · 27/09/2013 18:07

Ihatespiders That sounds more like working to rule, which is action short of strike action, which NASUWT have been on since December 2011.

I agree with the others- if you're not standing in unison with your colleagues nationwide, then you're not following the Union. There's absolutely no point in what you're planning on doing. And shock horror- a Head doesn't like strikes! Which Head does like them?

In answer to why teachers are striking, my take on it is this:

As of 2014, teachers' pay will be determined by the Head. There is no national guidelines as to what counts as performing at each level, so individual Heads will be able to choose their own terms and conditions. This will lead to discrepancies between schools, and schools do not have to offer a similar pay when you move job.
Part of the pay scale will be determined by pupils' progress. This will lead to teachers teaching only what is required to push up levels, the possibility of teachers forcing / faking levels and won't allow for new pupils who 'mess up' data, children who are having family problems, SEN issues which affect progress etc.
Gove wants to get rid of levels (technically sub-levels don't exist) but then how will schools decide if pupils have made sufficient progress for the teachers to earn their next pay level? It will lead to schools using their own system, which could easily be abused.
Gove wants to get rid of PPA time. He also wants to shorten the holidays and lengthen the day, but without increasing pay and whilst reducing the protection of our terms and conditions
Gove wants to increase the entry grades into teaching. At the same time, he's not going to increase the pay or conditions and is also getting rid of the requirement for teachers to have Qualified Teacher Status, meaning that any person could be teaching your child. He's downgrading the professionalism of the profession, but expecting a higher calibre of applicants (for lower pay).
Our pension contributions have gone up substantially and will continue to go up, yet the pension we receive will happen later in life, and will be worth less. Very few teachers will make it to 68 and so very few will be entitled to their full pension.
Gove insists on comparing us to eastern Asian countries, but in fact these countries have started changing their teaching policies to reflect our more creative approach. He benefited from his Victorian-esque education and therefore believes that this one size will fit all. His ideas are antiquated and not supported by any current research, yet he won't listen to those who disagree with him.
He's not willing to discuss things with the unions. He is keen to dismiss all teachers as being moaners who don't care about standards, and says we all need a shake up. He has removed all respect for the profession and has no respect for the dedication shown by the vast majority.

Wow- think I got a bit carried away there. Sorry. Was meant to be succinct!

CaptainSweatPants · 27/09/2013 18:09

Hmmm interesting!
So if you're a ta & your class teacher is striking on Tuesday what do you do ? Help out in a different class?

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