More school strikes after staff reject offer from Staffordshire and Birmingham trust
Strikes will continue at schools in Staffordshire and Birmingham operated by a trust after the parties failed to reach agreement.
A number of trusts operating schools in Staffordshire are embroiled in separate disputes with teachers and support staff.
Around 830 members working at 20 schools in the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership which has sites in Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield and Tamworth have so far taken part in industrial action in a row over compulsory redundancies amid financial issues at the trust.
There are no pickets at those schools today and the strikes will continue on January 26-29 extending to February 2-5 and February 9-13 following talks with the National Education Union (NEU) and a demonstration held in Birmingham's Victoria Square attended by hundreds of supporters.
Arthur Terry trust based in Sutton Coldfield stated: "Following a constructive discussion with the NEU earlier this week we submitted a proposal which put forward substantive concessions in an attempt to resolve several concerns.
"However, the NEU has rejected this offer and scheduled further strikes. This is incredibly disappointing as it means many children and young people will again not be able to attend school, which is deeply regrettable.
"Arrangements have been made to ensure pupils not able to go to school can continue their education, including through high-quality remote learning.
"We continue to do all we can to resolve the dispute as swiftly as possible, including further constructive talks with the NEU and reviewing all budgets to ensure our schools move towards a stronger and more sustainable future.”
Separate industrial action have been taking place at other Staffordshire schools including Wombourne High School and Kinver High School part of the Invictus Education Trust over working arrangements and at Doxey Primary Academy in Doxey Road in Stafford over new contracts for teaching assistants.
