Latest news with #CharterSchools
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Fury as schools gives parents just four days notice of strike by 'selfish' London teachers in maternity pay row
Schools in London have caused outrage after they gave just four days notice before teachers went on strike. Hundreds of teachers across eight school in the Charter Schools, a group of nine south London academies, will take part in industrial action alongside the National Education Union on Friday. But the schools only informed parents of this on Monday and have hit out at staff and the union with some branding the move 'selfish' over the decision which will affect more than 4,500 pupils aged from four to 18. Teachers have also said they will strike on July 15, 16 and 17 and the action has lead one school to cancel sports day and an end-of-term field trip to an art gallery. Staff at the academies are striking over a pay dispute, with the NEU demanding an increase in maternity pay wroth up to £5,000 per teacher. Chris McGovern, the chairman of the Campaign for Real Education (CRE), told The Telegraph: 'This action is damaging, selfish and grossly unfair on pupils. Teachers who strike have lost their moral compass.' The industrial action forced The Charter School in East Dulwich to cancel its enrichment activities for the end of the year and the headteacher apologised to pupils. In a letter seen by The Telegraph, headteacher Alison Harbottle, said the strikes were 'deeply regrettable', adding: 'I am extremely sorry for the disruption caused to your child's education.' Despite discussions between the NEU and the Charter Schools Educational Trust which resulted in three out of four of the demands being met, the union decided to go ahead with the end-of-term strikes. The NEU had raised four concerns with the school group including the academy recognising union membership to which they agreed, improving workload and well being and separating pay rises from performance so that everyone, unless on an individual management plan, receives a pay increase. However the union and the Trust were unable to reach an agreement over maternity pay. The Charter Schools Educational Trust told the NEU it could not afford to increase maternity pay from 32 per cent to 58 per cent. The difference in pay has resulted in the Trust being accused of operating a 'two-tier maternity policy', but the schools said it could not afford to pay as much as £4,863 extra for their highest-paid teachers. Charter Schools currently pays its highest-paid subject teachers, who earn £50,288 a year, £23,023 in maternity pay - which is already 32 per cent higher than the minimum rate set out in a national NEU agreement known as the Burgundy Book. Two schools already pay the 58 per cent rate, an agreement made when they were still maintained under Lambeth local authority and before they joined the Trust. Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: 'We entered into negotiations in good faith but have been faced with complete intransigence from the Trust on the issue of a two-tier maternity policy. 'Our members have made it clear that they do not think it fair that some staff receive thousands more maternity pay than their colleagues, despite sharing the same employer. We at least expected the Trust to make some sort of offer for our members to consider - but so far they have not offered a single penny more. 'Over the past year, the Trust has spent tens of thousands of pounds on external consultants, marketing and branding, a growing central team and substantial pay rises for its leaders, all while claiming it cannot afford an improved maternity offer for those who work in our schools. Our members expect and deserve better.' A spokesman for the Charter Schools said: 'As a practical resolution could not be reached, we are saddened that the NEU are proceeding with strike action. While we value the contribution of our staff hugely, we are one of only a few academy Trusts who already pay our staff more than the national agreement for maternity pay – by over 30 per cent. 'However, when trying to protect jobs because of the pressure of falling rolls and increased costs, we simply don't have the wriggle room to nearly double that commitment. What we hope we have shown, however, is that we are listening and we have always sought to engage and try and find a resolution where one has been possible.'
Telegraph
07-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Teachers announce strike with just four days' notice
Parents have been given just four days' notice of a strike by London teachers in the last weeks of term. Hundreds of teachers at the Charter Schools, a group of academies in south London, are set to join industrial action by the National Education Union (NEU) this week. Parents were only told of the strikes – which are due to begin on Friday – on Monday. Teachers at the group of nine schools, which have more than 4,500 pupils aged from four to 18, will also strike on July 15, 16 and 17. At one of the Charter trust's nine schools, the strikes have forced the cancellation of a sports day and an end-of-year art gallery field trip. The NEU is demanding an increase to teachers' maternity pay that could be worth up to £5,000 each. Chris McGovern, the chairman of the Campaign for Real Education (CRE), told The Telegraph: 'This action is damaging, selfish and grossly unfair on pupils. Teachers who strike have lost their moral compass.' In a letter to parents, Alison Harbottle, the headmistress of The Charter School East Dulwich said the strikes were 'deeply regrettable', adding: 'I am extremely sorry for the disruption caused to your child's education. 'Unfortunately, the NEU action is taking place on days that involve a range of activities in our end-of-year enrichment programme. We know this will be very disappointing for students involved in these activities.' Three of four demands met The strikes are set to go ahead despite the trust agreeing to three of four demands by the union. It is understood that it agreed to decouple pay rises from performance, form a staff group for workload and well-being issues, and recognise teachers' union membership. But the trust told the NEU it could not afford a demand for higher maternity pay, which could amount to as much as £4,863 extra for the highest-paid teachers. A source said: 'We were hopeful that because we had agreed with them on every point, they would see that hiking maternity pay would not be feasible. It would cost more money than we have and could mean some jobs would be lost. We just can't do that.' Charter Schools gives the highest-paid subject teachers – who in inner London receive £50,288 a year – £23,023 in maternity pay. That is £5,435 (32 per cent) higher than the £17,588 minimum rate the same teachers are eligible for under a nationwide NEU agreement known as the Burgundy Book. The union is demanding this premium increase from 32 per cent to 58 per cent, which for the highest-paid inner London teachers would see them receive £27,886 in maternity pay – an extra £4,863. This would also be £15,906 higher than the basic statutory maternity pay for which those teachers are eligible. The 58 per cent rate is currently paid by the trust at two of its nine schools, where this higher rate was agreed when they were previously local authority-maintained schools. A spokesman for the Charter Schools said: 'As a practical resolution could not be reached, we are saddened that the NEU are proceeding with strike action. 'While we value the contribution of our staff hugely, we are one of only a few academy trusts who already pay our staff more than the national agreement for maternity pay – by over 30 per cent. 'However, when trying to protect jobs because of the pressure of falling rolls and increased costs, we simply don't have the wriggle room to nearly double that commitment. What we hope we have shown, however, is that we are listening and we have always sought to engage and try and find a resolution where one has been possible.' The strikes appear to have been organised by a pro-Palestinian activist. Freddy Vanson, the district secretary for the NEU's Southwark branch, is equality, diversity and inclusion lead at Charles Dickens Primary School, one of the Charter Schools. His social media accounts feature images of him wearing a keffiyeh and holding a red bandana towards a sculpture of Che Guevara at Revolution Square in Havana, Cuba. Millions of pupils were disrupted by nationwide teaching strikes in 2023, including eight days of walkouts by NEU members in England. In April, Daniel Kebede, the NEU's leader, warned that further strikes could hit schools as soon as September this year despite the Government offering inflation-busting pay rises of 5.5 per cent.
Zawya
30-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Charter School Graduates celebrate a milestone first graduation
Abu Dhabi, UAE: Families, educators, industry leaders, and representatives from the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) came together in a proud celebration of the first graduating cohort from Charter Schools. The event honored the accomplishments of 369 Al Ghad Charter School's pioneering Class of 2025. As the first cohort of Charter Schools graduates, these students are equipped with the knowledge, values, and experiences to contribute meaningfully to the UAE's future. This moment goes beyond academic success, it marks the start of new opportunities and personal growth. The graduating Class of 2025 was empowered with future-ready support: from life skills workshops and IELTS preparation to career planning and personalized university counseling. Students were guided every step of the way, building a foundation of confidence, adaptability, and lifelong learning. In addition, students gained real-world exposure through enrichment partnerships with Tawazun, Al Jazira Club, Emirates NBD, Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, National Centre of Meteorology & Seismology, PureHealth, Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC), Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Department of Culture and Tourism, Hamda Al Fahim, PASS Abu Dhabi, Red Crescent, Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, Khalifa University, ERTH, and PwC. These collaborations offered workshops, training, and immersive experiences, resulting in over 1,000 university admission offers, with students accepted into top institutions across the UAE and the world. Locally, students secured admissions to many of the UAE's top universities, including United Arab Emirates University, Khalifa University, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Rabdan Academy, Abu Dhabi University, Zayed University, Fatima College of Health Sciences, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy and many others. Internationally, students earned placements at leading global institutions, many ranked among the world's top 20, including University of Melbourne, University of New South Wales, University of Sydney, and top 150 including Monash University, University of Amsterdam, University of Auckland, Boston University, University of Western Australia, University of Adelaide, University of Alberta, Ohio State University, Michigan State University, University of Arizona, University of Colorado Boulder, King Abdulaziz University, Savannah College of Art and Design, and Instituto Marangoni. This success was further supported by key sponsors including ADNOC, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy (ADMA), ADQ, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR), NAFIS, the International Centre for Culinary Arts (ICCA), and Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy- Les Roches, all of whom provided partial and full sponsorships for academic enrollment. ADEK recognizes the critical role that families play in every student's journey. This milestone is a shared achievement, a reflection of the commitment of parents, educators, and the wider community to providing young people with meaningful opportunities. As the Class of 2025 embarks on its next steps, these graduates carry not only knowledge and skills, but also a deep sense of responsibility to contribute to the continued growth and prosperity of the UAE. About Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is the Education Sector regulator across the Emirate. It oversees and provides services throughout a learner's journey from early education to university and beyond. It also champions inclusivity for People of Determination in the mainstream schooling system and by providing specialized schools. Across Early Childhood and K-12, ADEK licenses and regulates nurseries and private schools in Abu Dhabi while also legislating, mandating, and managing its own Charter Schools and 2 schools for People of Determination. ADEK also annually provides distinguished Abu Dhabi students with full scholarships and support to study at the best universities around the world. In addition, the Department audits and enhances the delivery of Higher Education in Abu Dhabi, attracting Higher Education Institutions to open the required Program or schools that serve Abu Dhabi's needs while championing a student and faculty-friendly ecosystem in the Emirate. With a vision to Empower Education. Empower Minds. Empower the Future, ADEK recognizes that every learner is different, and a diversity of teaching methods are essential for students to succeed. To that effect, ADEK partners with stakeholders to enable a great education system to flourish in Abu Dhabi and nurture future-ready graduates who have the 21st-century skills required to sustain and carry forward Abu Dhabi's vision.
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Trump Administration Boosts Charter School Grant Program
The Charter Schools Program (CSP) is a long-running federal grant program aimed at helping the charter school industry with new start-ups and expansions. It has had some serious problems with waste and fraud in the past, but Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has announced that the program will be getting an immediate funding boost of $60 million. Since 1995, CSP has distributed about $4 billion. A study by the Network for Public Education found that roughly $1 billion on that had been lost to waste and fraud, including charters that accepted grants and soon closed, or never even opened. A follow-up study found that nearly 1800 charter schools had failed after accepting CSP grants. Though she was the source of key data for the study, then-Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos herself repeatedly dismissed the study ('I'm not sure you can really call it a study') and claimed it is just the product of people with a political agenda. Under DeVos, CSP continued to dispense funding. Under the Biden administration, CSP was subject to new regulations that put some controls over how these taxpayer dollars were distributed. The new regulations included requirements for charter schools to better connect with community needs. New regulations also reduced the likelihood that a charter operator might spend taxpayer dollars on a school that never actually opened. Regulators also set out to limit charters that were only barely technically non-profit but actually operated as profit-making enterprises. In February the department announced that it had 'reigned in" [sic] regulations and 'federal overreach' of the program. CSP funding had stood at $440 million annually for the past few years. On May 16, McMahon announced that the amount would be increased to $500 million, not just as part of the budget proposal for next year, but as an immediate add-on to this year's funding for the program. The announcement does not clarify where that $60 million will come from. The department has not responded to media inquiries about the source of the funding, including an inquiry from me. The funding bump is in line with the Trump administration's stated support for taxpayer-funded school choice. The next few years will tell just how well those taxpayer dollars will be spent.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Watch live: McMahon testifies before House on Education Department budget
Education Secretary Linda McMahon will testify before the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday morning on the department's fiscal 2026 budget. The hearing comes as the Trump administration has made moves to dismantle the Education Department — from cutting staff to pulling back funding. The department's budget request includes major cuts to federal education and research programs, putting a focus on state and local education systems. It also includes a boost in charter school grants. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EDT. Watch the live video above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
