TEACHERS TO TAKE STRIKE ACTION NEXT WEEK

Teachers in Herts could join colleagues across the country next week in taking strike action after an announcement from the National Union of Teachers (NUT) today (Monday). Action is planned across the country on March 26 over national disputes around pay, pensions and working conditions. Chris Hayward, Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Education and Skills, said he hoped a strike would not be necessary. He added: “While we recognise that there are strongly held feelings on both sides of this national dispute, strike action in a key public service like this can only be to the detriment of Hertfordshire’s children and their parents. We hope that there is a speedy resolution to this dispute in the interests of all concerned. “The decision to stay open or to close is for individual school head teachers and governors to make. We have urged as many schools as possible to remain open as long as it is safe to do so, but we do not have any authority to compel them to stay open, whether they are community schools, free schools or academies. “If school leaders decide to close their doors, we have advised them to inform parents and carers as soon as possible in advance, so that they can make alternative arrangements for their children.” Justin Donovan, Director of Education, said: “The best way for parents to find out about closures is by contacting their children’s schools directly. While we will publicise the dates of impending strike action in advance on www.hertsdirect.org, together with contact details for the county’s schools, schools are not obliged to tell us about closures, so we cannot give an entirely accurate picture of which schools are closing.”