Tile Hill Wood closed again as teachers stage bigger strike

Pupils at a Coventry secondary school have got the day off today, as their teachers step up their fight against plans to turn it into an Academy.



Over 50 members of two unions are staging a one-day strike at Tile Hill Wood School and Language College.

It follows a half-day walk-out by 16 members of one of the groups – the National Union of Teachers- on 22nd March.

Governors are considering changing the status of the school to a state-funded independent Academy.

Jane Nellist, Joint Secretary of the Coventry branch of the NUT, said: “Our members are reluctantly taking strike action today because they feel that Governors are failing to listen to their concerns.”

“They are extremely concerned with the potential impact on their pay and conditions if the school becomes an Academy.”

“The NUT is campaigning against Academy schools because Academies have a damaging impact on children, teachers and the whole community and there is little evidence that Academies raise educational standards.”

A meeting for parents was arranged at the end of last month, but the National Association of Schoolmasters/ Union of Women Teachers say only 8 were able to turn up at such short notice.

Local rep Victor Aguera said: ”They signed up to be employees of a community school run by the local authority and are now faced with the prospect of a new employer that might actually be more attracted to making a profit and money out of education.

“It’s taken me a little bit by surprise in relation to how passionate the members feel about this.”

The school refused to make any comment other than to confirm the one-day closure because of industrial action – all staff are being asked to come in as normal.