Teachers are striking against increased working hours at 14 schools in the Outwood Grange Multi-Academy Trust (OGMAT). Pickets at Outwood Valley School in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, explained the issues to Jon Dale.
The school day currently finishes at 2.30pm, but there is just one 15-minute morning break and 30 minutes for lunch – shorter than most schools. Many pupils stay on for after-school clubs. OGMAT wants to lengthen the day by thirty minutes, with no extra time for teachers to prepare or mark the added work.
Teaching assistants have also been cut – often none are present in classes over 30, where three are needed to support pupils with special needs.
National Education Union (NEU) members took a day of strike action on 3 June, with two days planned for the next week and three days the following week. Members of teachers’ union NASUWT are likely to join the strike.
