Teachers strike at Withins School

7:54am Friday 9th May 2008

TEACHERS at Withins School went on strike in protest at plans to turn it into a privately funded academy.

About a quarter of the 100 teaching staff at the school in Breightmet stayed away yesterday, angry at plans to take the school out of Bolton Council's control.

The action, by National Union of Teachers members, forced the school to cancel lessons for more than half of the 814 pupils.

Year Nine pupils went in to sit their SATs exams, while GCSE students in Year 11 had morning lessons only.

NUT members from other schools and local education authorities joined Withins staff picketing the school gates in Newby Road.

They are concerned about the amount of control private donors will have over the school when it becomes an academy and that the changes will affect their pay, conditions and pension rights.

Withins NUT representative Phil Roberts said teachers had been forced into taking action against the school becoming an academy in September.

"These concerns were raised with the council when plans for the academy were first announced," he said.

"They have not been addressed. NUT members have been working overtime to ensure disruption to pupils was kept to a minimum.

"We had the support of neighbours and parents."

The Government's academy programme is designed to raise standards in deprived areas by providing modern facilities for pupils and the community.

It contributes about £25 million to its development, while private organisations put up £2 million.

Funding for the Withins academy is coming from the Diocese of Manchester and Rochdale-born David and Anne Crossland, who founded travel firm Airtours.

Donors then have a say in the running of the school and what students are taught, although they are bound by the national curriculum requirements.

English teacher Julia Higgs-Hacker said: "We are worried about our terms and conditions and should not be allowed to be sold off in this way.

"This is not a failing school and it should be given the money without having to become an academy."

Information technology teacher Christine Govier said: "This strike sends out a strong message to Bolton Council that we cannot be palmed off like this. "

Parents of pupils at the school said they supported the teachers' actions and that the school should be given cash without going down the academy route.

Vickie Marsh has three children at the school; Alex, aged 14, Bethany, aged 12, and Kerry, aged 11.

She said: "Nobody has explained what an academy school is.

"I went to the school and my children go there and it should stay as a comprehensive school.

"All children should get the same education. I don't know what goes on in an academy school. It's the teachers that know best."

Heather Wright has a daughter Carla, aged 14, at the school.

She wants her other children Jamie, aged 10, and Jessica, aged eight, to go there.

She said: "Withins is a very good school. I don't understand the academy plans and I don't understand why the school should not be given the money to invest.

"It can't be right to hand over the school to another organisation for just £2 million.

"Withins has made huge progress in recent years and it should be allowed to continue to do so without having to become an academy."

NUT Bolton secretary Barry Conway said: "The turnout has been tremendous. The teachers have showed excellent determination that there will be no compromise over this issue."

Further action is not being ruled out by the NUT.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "Further meetings are planned with management, unions and sponsors of the school and we will continue to maintain an open dialogue."

Withins will become the first academy in Bolton.

Hayward School in Great Lever has also applied to become an academy.