'Constructive talks' as teacher strikes continue at over 20 Staffordshire and Birmingham schools

Staff working at 20 schools including some in Lichfield are taking part in industrial action at the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership this week until January 22 and on three days next week with pickets running at some sites. 

In a joint statement on January 21 the Arthur Terry trust and National Education Union (NEU) said: “We have held constructive discussions this week and have agreed to continue engaging with an open and meaningful dialogue.

“Both parties are clear that this dispute must be resolved and are reflecting on the matters discussed. Further meetings have been scheduled as part of an ongoing process to explore next steps and work towards a resolution, in the best interests of staff, pupils and their families.”

The NEU claims it has the support of parents and many were joining striking members at  is planning a rally in Birmingham city centre on Thursday(22).

The dispute is over compulsory redundancies at the trust based in Sutton Coldfield as part of efforts to tackle financial issues after it was ordered to make improvements by The Department for Education and Education and the Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for failing to balance the books in 2024.

In a separate dispute staff at Stafford's Doxey Primary Academy in Doxey Road, Doxey are on the picket lines in a long-running row over teaching assistant contracts. The GMB union claims the affected staff were facing an impossible choice forced on them by school bosses to either lose up to £6,000 pay a year or lose their jobs. 

The following Arthur Terry trust schools are fully closed today:

• Curdworth Primary, Sutton Coldfield 

• Hill West Primary, Sutton Coldfield 

• Mere Green Primary, Sutton Coldfield 

• St Michael's C of E Primary, Lichfield 

The following schools are partially closed, but open to

 vulnerable pupils and/or exam year groups:

• Deykin Avenue Junior and Infant, Witton 

• Paget Primary, Pype Hayes 

• Slade Primar,  Erdington 

• St Chad's CE Primary, Lichfield 

• William MacGregor Primary, Tamworth 

• Two Gates Primary, Tamworth 

• The Coleshill School, Coleshill 

• The Royal Sutton School, Sutton Coldfield 

• Nether Stowe School, Lichfield 

• Stockland Green School  Erdington 

• The Arthur Terry School, Sutton Coldfield 

• West Coventry Academy, Coventry

• Osborne Primary, Erdington 

• Scotch Orchard Primary,  Lichfield 

• Anna Seward Primary,  Lichfield 

• Coton Green Primary, 

The following schools are open:

• The Bridge Academy,  Lichfield 

• Greysbrooke Primary, Shenstone

• Brookvale Primary, Erdington

• Dunstall Park Primary, Tamworth