Blue Coat staff are preparing to go on strike next week

Staff at The Blue Coat School in Liverpool are preparing for the first days of strike action next week.

Problems grew at the prestigious school, based in Wavertree, culminating in the sudden departure of headteacher Scilla Yates under pressure earlier this month.

Problems at the school have also prompted staff to vote for what could be six days of strike action in the coming weeks. The first two of these days are scheduled for the week of Tuesday and Thursday, May 14 and 16.

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On Thursday, administrators at the renowned school issued a letter to parents ahead of the first planned walkouts. They said they were continuing to work with arbitration service ACAS to try to find a solution with the National Education Union (NEU) in the hope of ending any strike action before next week.

The letter states: “We have put contingency plans in place to prepare for the upcoming strike event. We have revised our risk assessment in light of NEU staff numbers and the impact on school provision.”

The letter confirms that the school will be closed for all students on the planned strike days, except for those who have an exam, as well as vulnerable students.

Access to the school will continue to be offered to selected vulnerable pupils. The school said parents would be contacted by the student support team this week to discuss arrangements.

All Blue Coat students will be asked to engage in “independent home study” during strike days. The letter states: “If a pupil has a lesson with a teacher who is not involved in industrial action, they will receive information on team provision.”

The school added that students will receive detailed information about learning provision and exam arrangements this week.

In addition to next Tuesday and Thursday, the NEU is also planning a further strike at the school on May 21 and 23 and June 12 and 13.

The school’s letter states: “It is important to stress that the current situation is changing rapidly as administrators work tirelessly to agree a resolution with the NEU to end the strike. We will keep you updated as negotiations unfold.

“We understand that the strike will cause disruption and inconvenience to our students and their families, and we are very grateful for your understanding.”

The NEU says the strike is due to staff concerns, including “an overwhelmed workload and unsatisfactory work allocation arrangements” as well as “ineffective school mechanisms for negotiation and consultation”.

Safety concerns were also raised about the condition of the building and equipment, as well as issues with “management cultures”.

The union said members voted with a 91% turnout, recording an “overwhelming” 82% vote in favor of industrial action.

In a statement, the trustees said: “This is their legal right and their decision to do so is something we as a board respect and recognise.

“Before Easter, we proactively approached ACAS, which is the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, to ask for their support in helping us reach a resolution with the NEU. This work is ongoing and we believe progress is being made.

“In addition to this activity, contingency plans are also underway should a strike occur. We will provide more information to our community closer to the time and the focus is on ensuring there is as little disruption as possible for those students facing exams this summer.

“We fully appreciate the current situation the school is in will potentially add uncertainty and pressure for our families at a time when there is already a huge amount to think about and consider. We do everything we can to work collaboratively with our staff to achieve the best outcomes for our students.”

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