Latest news with #CottinghamHighSchool
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Teacher strike ends after 'successful' talks
A long-running strike over redundancies and working practices at a secondary school has come to an end. Teachers at Cottingham High School, near Hull, had been taking industrial action since January, with walkouts called by the National Education Union (NEU). Cottingham High School said it was "pleased" to confirm strike action had ended after "successful negotiations" with the union. The NEU said that a new policy written by the school meant teachers were "protected from unreasonable levels of monitoring and evaluation". Concerns had been raised about redundancies in connection with the closure of the school's sixth form. However, the school said it had "consistently maintained" since October that "no more than two colleagues would be at risk of redundancy". Strike action "did not alter this position". In a letter sent to parents earlier, head teacher Jay Kerby said the end of the strike meant "we can confidently move forward in a positive and productive manner, working together with mutual respect for the benefit of our learners". The letter set out details of a recovery plan that had been put in place by the school, including increased homework support and workshops with parents. Steve Scott, the NEU branch secretary, said: "We are pleased that the trust and leadership at the school finally got round the table to write the policy which members had been asking for. "We are also glad that they issued a statement on the number of redundancies, which is significantly lower than it was when this began. "The implementation of a teaching and learning policy and adherence to the trust quality assurance policy ensures that members are protected from the school becoming a panopticon and being subject to unreasonable levels of monitoring and evaluation." In a statement the school said it was "fully committed to always doing our best to avoid redundancies". An "instructional framework" would be "implemented as agreed through negotiations" to support "the school's vision for consistency and continuous educational improvement". Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. 'We don't want to strike but we need to do it' Staff stage new strike over sixth form closure plan Proposed sixth form closure due to falling numbers Parents question school over toilet gate Cottingham High School National Education Union
BBC News
07-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cottingham High School teacher strike ends after talks
A long-running strike over redundancies and working practices at a secondary school has come to an at Cottingham High School, near Hull, had been taking industrial action since January, with walkouts called by the National Education Union (NEU).Cottingham High School said it was "pleased" to confirm strike action had ended after "successful negotiations" with the NEU said that a new policy written by the school meant teachers were "protected from unreasonable levels of monitoring and evaluation". Concerns had been raised about redundancies in connection with the closure of the school's sixth the school said it had "consistently maintained" since October that "no more than two colleagues would be at risk of redundancy". Strike action "did not alter this position".In a letter sent to parents earlier, head teacher Jay Kerby said the end of the strike meant "we can confidently move forward in a positive and productive manner, working together with mutual respect for the benefit of our learners".The letter set out details of a recovery plan that had been put in place by the school, including increased homework support and workshops with parents. 'Round the table' Steve Scott, the NEU branch secretary, said: "We are pleased that the trust and leadership at the school finally got round the table to write the policy which members had been asking for. "We are also glad that they issued a statement on the number of redundancies, which is significantly lower than it was when this began."The implementation of a teaching and learning policy and adherence to the trust quality assurance policy ensures that members are protected from the school becoming a panopticon and being subject to unreasonable levels of monitoring and evaluation."In a statement the school said it was "fully committed to always doing our best to avoid redundancies".An "instructional framework" would be "implemented as agreed through negotiations" to support "the school's vision for consistency and continuous educational improvement". Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'We don't want to strike but we need to do it'
Teachers involved in long-running strike action at an East Yorkshire secondary school have met parents to explain why they will stay on the picket lines. Members of the National Education Union (NEU) have staged walkouts since January over redundancies and planned changes which they claim have workload implications. Cottingham High School, near Hull, said it wanted to bring the dispute to an end and had "always acted transparently and in good faith". Roseanne Plater, a maths teacher at the school who is taking industrial action, described it as a "horrible situation". "Striking has been really hard. I'm pregnant and it's not a great time of year to be standing outside on a picket line," she said. "We want to be in the classroom. We want to be teaching. I've got classes that I'm worried about because of the impact of these strikes. It's horrible. "But we're doing this for the long-term future of the school and we wouldn't do it unnecessarily." Ms Plater added she had "never seen a situation like it" during her 12-year career, and she claimed bosses at the school had ignored concerns when they were raised informally last year. Parents who attended the meeting on Thursday said they had sympathy for those taking strike action but also concerns about the impact on their children. Ben Harper-Longbone, who has two children at the school, said the row was "confusing", and said students were "not getting the care or education they need". He said: "There are lots of allegations being made by both parties but they need to bang their heads together and crack on. "Some of the children lost two years of school through Covid so I want everyone to just get around the table and talk." Mr Harper-Longbone's thoughts were echoed by Vicky, who has one child at the school and another due to start in September. "I'm very worried. I've heard the school point of view, I've heard what the teachers have had to say, and I'm really not bothered. We just need an end to the whole row," she said. A spokesperson for Cottingham High School said: "We want this dispute to end. In our view the key to resolving it is a genuine willingness to talk, listen, and then to try to identify where compromise may be possible. "We have done our best to achieve that, and have always acted transparently and in good faith, bringing in Acas to help us resolve the situation. "We remain totally committed to keeping Cottingham High School open so that our learners' education can continue as normally as possible." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Staff stage new strike over sixth form closure plan Proposed sixth form closure due to falling numbers Parents question school over toilet gate National Education Union Cottingham High School
BBC News
07-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Cottingham High School staff discuss strike action with parents
Teachers involved in long-running strike action at an East Yorkshire secondary school have met parents to explain why they will stay on the picket of the National Education Union (NEU) have staged walkouts since January over redundancies and planned changes which they claim have workload High School, near Hull, said it wanted to bring the dispute to an end and had "always acted transparently and in good faith".Roseanne Plater, a maths teacher at the school who is taking industrial action, described it as a "horrible situation". "Striking has been really hard. I'm pregnant and it's not a great time of year to be standing outside on a picket line," she said."We want to be in the classroom. We want to be teaching. I've got classes that I'm worried about because of the impact of these strikes. It's horrible."But we're doing this for the long-term future of the school and we wouldn't do it unnecessarily."Ms Plater added she had "never seen a situation like it" during her 12-year career, and she claimed bosses at the school had ignored concerns when they were raised informally last year. Parents who attended the meeting on Thursday said they had sympathy for those taking strike action but also concerns about the impact on their Harper-Longbone, who has two children at the school, said the row was "confusing", and said students were "not getting the care or education they need".He said: "There are lots of allegations being made by both parties but they need to bang their heads together and crack on."Some of the children lost two years of school through Covid so I want everyone to just get around the table and talk."Mr Harper-Longbone's thoughts were echoed by Vicky, who has one child at the school and another due to start in September."I'm very worried. I've heard the school point of view, I've heard what the teachers have had to say, and I'm really not bothered. We just need an end to the whole row," she said. A spokesperson for Cottingham High School said: "We want this dispute to end. In our view the key to resolving it is a genuine willingness to talk, listen, and then to try to identify where compromise may be possible."We have done our best to achieve that, and have always acted transparently and in good faith, bringing in Acas to help us resolve the situation."We remain totally committed to keeping Cottingham High School open so that our learners' education can continue as normally as possible."Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
