School strike action continues

Strike action has continued at two local schools as support staff remain locked in a dispute over pay cuts and job losses.

Workers at Saint Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Glossop and St Charles Catholic Voluntary Academy in Hadfield took further strike action on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd April, following an earlier walkout in March.

The dispute involves staff across the Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trusts, with employees raising concerns over proposed restructuring that could see significant reductions in pay and staffing levels.

At St Charles in Hadfield, staff on the picket line were joined by local councillor Edward Siddall, who represents Hadfield South. He voiced strong support for those taking action, saying:

“Teaching assistants are the very heart of a school - running phonics sessions, working one-to-one with children, supporting those with additional needs, putting up displays and going above and beyond every day. To lose any of them would be like ripping the heart out of a school. I would urge the trust to look at cutting pay at the top of the organisation, so that children in our area can continue to have the support they need. I stand in full solidarity with all staff on strike.”

Parents have also spoken out. Jamie-leigh Findlay, whose eight-year-old son Freddie attends the school, has written an open letter expressing concern about the impact of the proposed changes.

She wrote: “I am worried about the impact these proposals will have on the quality of education, pastoral care and overall wellbeing of my son” adding that reducing staffing “risks a reduction in individual support and placing additional strain on remaining staff.”

Describing her son’s needs, she said: “My little boy is eight years old… and day to day this brings difficulty to life as it is. My son has an EHCP in place that requires one-to-one support from a TA, and you are wanting to take that away from him. You are taking away the people that make his life a little bit easier.”

She also urged decision-makers to see the impact first-hand, writing: “I urge you… to go in and meet these children… and see who exactly you are taking support away from.”

In her letter, she questioned how the proposals reflect the school’s ethos, adding: “I chose a Catholic school because of its commitment to dignity, care and solidarity. It is difficult to reconcile these proposed cuts with those values.”

She called on the trust to reconsider, asking it to “explore alternative options that protect staff roles and safeguard the quality of education and care.”

Photo: Strike action at Saint Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Glossop.

Support staff involved in the strikes include teaching assistants, administration workers and midday supervisors, many of whom say the changes could leave schools with fewer staff expected to do more work.

When the Glossop Chronicle asked for a response in March, Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive Officer for the trust said that it was facing significant financial challenges and must ensure spending remains in line with available funding. He said they are working closely with the Department for Education on a recovery plan and that proposed staffing changes are currently under consultation, with hopes that required savings can be achieved through voluntary measures, with compulsory redundancies only as a last resort.