Brookfield School will be closed next Thursday (June 30) as a result of national strike action by teachers – one of just two schools in the Western Wards expected to be affected by the action.
Park Gate Primary School will also be closed for the day, while St Anthony’s Primary School in Titchfield Common has yet to make a decision.
Those schools in the Western Wards that have said they expect to be open as usual are:
- Hook with Warsash Primary in Warsash
- Locks Heath Infants
- Locks Heath Juniors
- Sarisbury Infants
- Sarisbury Juniors
- St John’s Primary at Titchfield Common
- Whiteley Primary
- Titchfield Primary
The strike has been called by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) over changes being proposed to teachers’ pensions by the government.
It is the first time the ATL has ever held national strike action. Other unions have warned of possible industrial action later in the year unless negotiations over public sector pensions can lead to a deal.
In a letter to parents Brookfield School Head Teacher Ria Allan said: “Neither the governing body nor the head teacher is legally allowed to close the school ‘in sympathy’ with the strike and we will not do so. We do, however, have a responsibility and concern for the safety of our students.
“For this reason we have conducted an initial risk assessment so that we have a better understanding of the levels of supervision that we will be able to provide on June 30, and to enable us to give parents advance warning of a school closure so that appropriate child care arrangements can be made.
“At this stage a decision has been made to close the school to students for the whole day.”
Some Brookfield pupils will still be working – Year 10 diploma students at Brookfield and Fareham College will be expected to attend as usual, and those using other schools for their diplomas may also be in. A Year 10 photography trip is also still expected to go ahead as will a Year Nine trip to Fareham College Open Day.
Mrs Allan added: “Students are expected to use the time at home to complete home learning tasks, unfinished class activities and catch-up work.”
Union members are not required to tell head teachers in advance whether they will be taking action or not, but at Park Gate School all those that are in the NUT and ATL have indicated they will be supporting the national action.
Head Teacher Rebecca Kingsland said that meant she would be left with just four members of staff next Thursday so had no option but to close the school.
“We have told the parents now and I have to say that on the whole they have been very supportive of the decision that we have taken and grateful that they have had enough notice to make arrangements,” she said.