Schools face further strike action by staff

A trade union has warned that strike action could continue in September at four Lincolnshire schools in a dispute over workload and redundancies.

The National Education Union (NEU) said talks with Horncastle Education Trust, which runs the schools in Horncastle, Boston and Huttoft, near Alford, had been unsuccessful.

The union said the trust had "refused" to introduce a trade union recognition agreement, cut up to 23 jobs and reduced teachers' planning time.

The trust said it was looking to transfer the running of the four schools to other education trusts and drawing up a new agreement would "not be appropriate". It added that it remained "supportive of positive and constructive engagement".

The dispute involves staff at Banovallum School and Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Horncastle, New York and Frithville Primary School in Boston, and Huttoft Primary School.

NEU members at the schools have taken seven days of strike action since May, and members of the NASUWT have also staged walkouts.

The NEU said the reduction in staff would result in teachers working up to 120 extra hours a year and would cut preparation time by about 30%.

But it added that "any form of strike action is a last resort" and would not go ahead if the trust agreed to a "regular and meaningful consultation process".

Horncastle Education Trust said it had considered a recognition agreement but did not think it would be appropriate when the organisation was looking to transfer the academies to other trusts.

It added: "We all remain supportive of positive and constructive engagement with recognised trade unions and were aware that trust leaders have already committed to regular engagement during the next academic year."

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