Parent accuses teachers of using children's education as a bartering chip

Llantwit Major School was closed to all but one year group in a key exam period when teachers walked out on April 23 with more strikes planned

A parent of a child at a Welsh school, shut to almost all all years as teachers went out on strike, says pupils are losing out on their education.

The parent accused Llantwit Major School and teachers of using their children’s education “as a bartering chip”. On Thursday April 23 only pupils in GCSE year 11 came in for lessons with all other pupils, including sixth formers, handed workbooks to do from home or asked to revise.

GCSEs and A levels start soon with the first A level exams on May 6 and teachers in the Nasuwt due to walk out again on Tuesday April 28 and six more strike dates running into September. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.

Llantwit Major School was shut to most of its 900+ pupils on Thursday April 23 when members of the Nasuwt and National Education Union walked out in an ongoing dispute over work arrangements and behaviour management. The NEU has no more strike dates announced but teachers in the Nasuwt are due to walk out again on Tuesday April 28 and other dates throughout this term and into September.

Despite more than a year of union negotiations the Nasuwt said its members at Llantwit Major High have seen worsening concerns over workload, pupil behaviour, and their own health, safety and welfare. The NEU is in dispute over a reduction in planning, preparation and assessment time (PPA)too and urged the school back to the negotiating table to resolve matters.

One parent, whose child’s lessons were affected, said: “These children are of the covid generation, already on the backfoot due to the loss of education they had during covid and now their education is being used as a bartering chip. There are no winners in this situation just children losing out on schooling at a very important time in their education. “

The NEU said in a statement that its members took their third day of strike action on April 23 after the school’s governors confirmed a decision to cut teacher PPA to the absolute minimum allowed.

“Our members are clear that by taking this action, longstanding behavioural issues at the school will get worse as sufficient PPA time is essential for dealing with these issues.

“While meetings have taken place between the unions, the employer and Acas as yet it has not been possible to reach agreement so therefore the NEU is taking strike action to highlight the situation and the seriousness with which our members take this issue. Some of the communications around this issue from the school have not helped the situation and have made resolution more difficult.”

In a letter to parents and carers, seen by WaleOnline, Llantwit Major School headteacher Charlotte Robins, explained arrangements during upcoming strikes. She said she hoped their could be resolution. Both sides have consulted arbitration service Acas separately.

The next walk out is on Tuesday April 28 when the school will therefore “need to close to certain year groups”, the head has told families.

On Tuesday Year 11 pupils are being asked to revise at home while year 10 pupils can be in school. Years 7, 8 and 9 learners will work from home from workbooks provided.

On both days, sixth form pupils will be in school but only some sixth form lessons are going ahead with pupils are asked to complete independent study when not in lessons, the headteacher’s letter adds.

While the NEU has no more strikes planned at this stage the Nasuwt has announced seven new strike dates between now and September on May 6, June 17, July 2, July 15, July 16 and September 3 and 10.

“The school will give as much notice as possible regarding specific arrangements for these dates. Our aim is to have many learners in school as possible in line with legal requirements for pupil teacher ratios,” the headteacher said.

A Level exams are scheduled for May 6 and the school has confirmed these exams will go ahead.

But the strike may affect end of term treats too.

“Parents will be aware that Thursday 16th July is rewards trips day, with activities and buses booked for rewards activities for Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 learners,” the head’s letter adds.

“The school are really keen that these opportunities still go ahead and our current position is that they still will, however, we are governed by strict teacher/pupil ratios. We will do everything we can to ensure your children can still go on these trips.

“We are working closely with all groups involved to reduce disruption as much as possible. The safety, wellbeing and education of our pupils remain our top priorities.”

Separate to the strike, teachers are being offered voluntary redundancy. A redundancy consultation period has been launched, the council confirmed. The school’s headteacher, Charlotte Robins, has previously warned that if not enough come forward compulsory job losses may follow.

Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice