News / Education
SEN school joins wave of striking educators
An SEN school has joined the wave of educational establishments currently on strike over issues around pay and working conditions.
Grace Garden School off Canford Lane in Westbury-on-Trym is the latest to launch industrial action, holding a strike on Tuesday with another planned for Wednesday.
National Education Union (NEU) members at the school said while they are “proud” to be part of Ruskin Mill Trust, which oversees them, they feel they are not paid enough.
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“We feel conflicted in the contrast between the holistic and nurturing education model and the staff conditions set by Ruskin Mill Trust,” they said.
“In a city in which the cost of living is comparable to London, we have many of our members spending up to 70 per cent of their income on rent; professionals regarded as unqualified teachers on lower salaries than trainee teachers; and teaching staff paid ten to 20 per cent less than their counterparts in mainstream schools.”
Members have asked the trust for reviews into their pay and contracted hours, saying staff “experience burn out and exhaustion after long days in physically and emotionally demanding roles”.
They have also asked for a “fair” sick pay policy.
Grace Garden is the twelfth school to have gone on strike this fortnight – photo: Molly Pipe
Tom Bolton from Bristol NEU said: “Grace Garden NEU members are skilled experts. They deserve to live a decent and dignified life in the city where they work.
“Grace Garden NEU members have voted in huge numbers, not because they want to disrupt the education of kids at the school but in support of them.
“The school is the staff, the staff are the union. They deserve the very best because the children they serve deserve the very best.
“It is disappointing that the school have chosen not to keep parents/carers informed of developments relating to this dispute.
“The NEU has provided the school all due legal notice of this dispute which means the school has had plenty of time to inform the wider school community of the proposed strike days.”
Ruskin Mill Trust did not respond to a request for comment.
Grace Garden is among a number of schools holding industrial action. The last fortnight alone has seen strikes from Venturers’ Academy, Montpelier High School, Merchants’ Academy, Bannerman Road Community Academy, Barton Hill Academy, Fairlawn Primary School, Downend School, The Castle School, Mangotsfield School, Marlwood School and LPW Independent School.
Main photo: Grace Garden School
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