Teacher strike action looms at Highcrest Academy

5:30pm Tuesday 13th November 2012 in News By Simon Farr

Teacher strike action looms at Highcrest Academy Teacher strike action looms at Highcrest Academy

HIGHCREST Academy is facing strike action from teachers next week.

Up to 38 staff from the academy in High Wycombe could strike on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week, union bosses have announced, with further action mooted for the week after.

The proposed action by members of the NUT and NASUWT trade unions comes after four teachers were deducted pay by the academy.

The academy said the four NUT-represented teachers failed to show up to appraisal meetings - which staff had been allocated half-a-day to attend - resulting in their pay for the hours they missed being revoked.

But union chiefs say the “punitive fines” were unfairly imposed on members taking part in a lawful national campaigns against working conditions.

NASUWT has 16 members and the NUT represents 22 teachers at the Hatters Lane-based academy.

Highcrest said a 'significant number' of teachers will continue to work as normal next week. A letter is being sent home to parents tonight and updates will be posted on the academy’s website.

To read more on this story, visit this website later in the week.

Comments(30)

The Judge says...
7:29pm Tue 13 Nov 12

GET A GRIP AND GET TO WORK - THERE ARE 000S OUT THERE WANTING JOBS....
THIS IS A DISGRACE....
JUDGE

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Stand up for England says...
8:37pm Tue 13 Nov 12

'punative' fines were issued... punative basically is described in English Oxford as punishment. They did not receive 'punative' fines; they were docked pay because they did not work' they did not turn up, they did not comply with their work contract which was to attend the school and provide labour. Now try this in 99% of companies/businesses and guess what .. the result will be the same only difference is you may get a warning, reprimand even the sack. Four of them did not turn up for appraisal therefore it was more than likely that they conspired together to take this collective action. These so called 'teachers' should be suspended from post while position investigated and subsequently receive written warnings whatever. If they get away with this because of the threat of strike action, then further disruption, in the years ahead can only be expected when things don't go their way. They should be setting an example, they have a responsibility that goes with the job and if they cannot aspire to the high standards expected within the role, then they have no place in the teaching profession and should be permanently removed.

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The podgeman says...
8:45pm Tue 13 Nov 12

No they should strike, the school shouldn't be doing that its terrible. That Mrs Moynihan just wants the school to be bigger and better and this time it has backfired. My daughter got a letter today and I agree her education shouldn't suffer for a year 8 pupil, but those teachers need to show the management the can't be pushed over. It obviously shows something's wrong if the unions are paying them to go on strike, makes you wonder what we aren't told about our so called 'local' and 'outstanding' school.

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The podgeman says...
9:04pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Also I found this

"Strikes to support workload action
Teachers in the NUT and NASUWT unions are planning more strikes in support of their unions’ campaign over workload.

Both unions are taking action short of a strike over pay, pensions and conditions. This involves boycotting certain duties.

In schools where head teachers refuse to accept this, workers are striking in response. NUT and NASUWT members at Stratford Academy plan to walk out again on Monday and Tuesday of next week. They plan strikes for three days the following week.

The NUT has called strikes on the same days at Highcrest Academy in Buckinghamshire. The head teacher there has also threatened to cut workers’ pay if they take part in the action short of a strike.

Meanwhile NUT and NASUWT members at Deptford Green school in Lewisham, south east London, have voted for strikes.

And both unions at Ridgewood School in Doncaster plan to walk out in defence of the action short of a strike. They have called strikes for next Tuesday, followed by the 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22 November."

The bfp highlights different points than the letter, also I don't think people understand if those 4 members of staff went to that meetings there working conditions and pension would change this is not fair. My daughter who is in year 8 at the school says there was a tension over the teachers today so what is actually happening up there, we need to here from the head teacher not one of the assistants or Mr Newton again on what has changed to make them strike!

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The podgeman says...
9:06pm Tue 13 Nov 12

My last comment quoted from.

http://www.socialist
worker.co.uk/art.php
?id=29895

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Drew70 says...
10:46pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Failing school, poor academic standards, gang membership and uncontrollable pupils, will the missing teachers make a difference to the teaching levels at the school? Probably not.

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janee says...
11:04pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Teachers have agreed "directed" time - that is the amount of time controlled by management. It does not include all the other work teachers do - display, marking, preparation, writing reports, etc, etc. The current action is against head teachers who are demanding more than they are entitled to and carrying out too many assessments as a way of bullying teachers.

Any parent should be concerned if teachers are submitting to being bullied. After all, if they are prepared to be bullied, what sort of teacher does that make them - will they be bullied by pupils or will they be a bully themselves?

For those who think a teacher has an easy life - just try it - I worked for years in several jobs, some with long hours, before becoming a teacher but nothing was as hard as teaching.

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itstheprincipal says...
12:16am Wed 14 Nov 12

podgeman says "makes you wonder what we aren't told about our so called 'local' and 'outstanding' school."
Oh if only the truth were known, janee has hit the nail on the head when mentioning bullying of staff. Think about it for a minute, unions do not pull staff out on strike for no reason at all let alone pay them for doing so! Tip & iceberg spring to mind!
Highcrest looks all rosy on the outside,but in reality a lot of the parents & staff are upset at the way they have been treated by Miss Moynihan.

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Catflap says...
8:53am Wed 14 Nov 12

so they don't go into work but still expect to be paid. nice work if you can get it.

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Horatio Hornblower says...
8:53am Wed 14 Nov 12

Bullying of staff in schools is much more common than you think...


http://community.tes
.co.uk/forums/p/5331
43/7111318.aspx.

That is just the teachers, you should hear the experiences of support staff...

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Catflap says...
8:58am Wed 14 Nov 12

i wonder how many staff would strike if they were not getting reimbursed. Lets see paid to go to work, paid the same if i stay at home. Not a hard decision really.

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BecksH says...
3:11pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Yes, I agree with Bajina. Highcrest has some outstanding and dedicated teachers - the good and improving academic results of their pupils testify to this. It is sad whenever dialogue fails - and unfortunately dialogue and consultation do not seem to be a strength of the management team there: Witness not only their treatment of staff, but also the way in which they forced through their new admissions code despite the deeply held concerns at BCC and other local secondary schools about how it will disadvantage local children. Hopefully going forward the Head can lead by example in showing that she would like to understand better the worries of her teachers and of the local community, rather than just seeking to shout them down.

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The podgeman says...
4:50pm Wed 14 Nov 12

To update my daughter got home from school and after asking her what's happened today has been a noticeable difference around the school, from an extended staff meeting this morning that ran into there first lesson (so much for not affecting the kids education eh?) also the teachers seemed to be 'upset' one of her older friends also told her that a teacher said "they feel guilty for expressing there belief" don't get me wrong, I think some of the things on here are wrong as the teachers are amazing and they possibly are the most outstanding thing at that school and this isn't their fault especially as now she's been told there won't be a strike on tuesday as there is a meeting but the school didn't tell me that. All that seems to bother them is there reputation and not the important thing students and their parents she also over heard one teacher saying to another "they are victimising us I'm glad those 4 didn't go to the meeting or we would all have fallen for the trap" makes you wonder what's happened I want to know the whole story not dribs and drabs before we make accusations and pointing the finger we as parents have a right to know!

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x-teacher says...
5:22pm Wed 14 Nov 12

I would usually be the first to stick up for fellow teachers taking strike action but the current 'work to rule' by the two largest teaching unions is utterly pointless. It has, unfortunately, just served to provide a platform to the more militant element within our profession. How exactly do the unions think that refusing to co-operate with the senior management team within a school is going to change the current government's policy on public sector pensions? In the majority of school nationally there have been no negative effects from this ridiculous action, simply because the teachers within those schools have applied common sense. If the teachers at Highcrest feel the need to make a stand about something it should be the disgraceful way in which Ofqual has dealt with the exams fiasco this summer. As for getting paid to strike, my understanding is that if you don't go to work you don't get paid. Of course, the unions don't always point that out to staff when they call a strike. My final point is that I very rarely comment on forums such as these and only ever do when I know what I'm talking about. It's a shame that everyone doesn't apply the same logic.

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Littleskyfall says...
5:24pm Wed 14 Nov 12

The podgeman says he wants to know the whole story, and he is right we should know more. I have heard that it is to do with the staff appraisals and changing their contract. This was done without consultation with the teachers, so when the member of staff was on a one to one (in their appraisal) they were pressurised into signing. The four members realised what was happening and went to their union and were told under no circumstances were they to go to their appraisal. These members of staff did go in to work though. The Government have brought in changes that schools can choose to make or not. All other local schools have chosen not to make this change because they don't feel it neccesary. So why has Highcrest chosen to do this? Simple, because it gives the Head more 'power'. I want to know what the Governors are doing about it?

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A good family says...
6:00pm Wed 14 Nov 12

X-teacher tell us more because I think you are wrong and do t know what your talking about, I would like to throw out there also at open evening last year I remember a senior member of staff Mrs Oddie shouting at a member of staff basically treating her like scum infront of us prospective parents now if that's how they treat their staff I don't blame them for striking but what made it worse was that we got no apology from her and that completely put me off that school after an outstanding evening I can only say it was a shame and blame miss Oddie.

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norma stitz says...
6:16pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Would never of happened in my day when the school was Hatters Lane.
Do remember the pupils going on strike in the winter of 1963 when the boiler broke down.
Even made the national press.

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Voyeur says...
6:49pm Wed 14 Nov 12

I cannot see any evidence that the striking teachers will be paid by the union. I have been on strike a number of times over my working life and my wages have never been made up by the union and I expect there will be no difference here.

It is disgraceful that the school management apparently cannot consult and negotiate with teachers and their representatives to arrive at an agreed process.

Also it might be telling that although there are only 4 teachers affected, the support from other union members is strong.

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washondo says...
9:38pm Wed 14 Nov 12

The podgeman wrote:
No they should strike, the school shouldn't be doing that its terrible. That Mrs Moynihan just wants the school to be bigger and better and this time it has backfired. My daughter got a letter today and I agree her education shouldn't suffer for a year 8 pupil, but those teachers need to show the management the can't be pushed over. It obviously shows something's wrong if the unions are paying them to go on strike, makes you wonder what we aren't told about our so called 'local' and 'outstanding' school.
LOL

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CH ABB4S says...
11:02pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Aha lol Highcrest hasn't even got a good reputation anyway

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Littleskyfall says...
7:39am Thu 15 Nov 12

Why are some comments on here being removed? BFP are you now the victim of bullying? Are you being threatened by The Head or legal action? Most probably. This is local peoples opinions it is here for us to have 'our say'. No one can get to speak to the school. For parents, staff and local people this is the only way they can find out what is going on. We all no it is hearsay but by removing them it appears there is a lot of truth in what is being said.

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Catflap says...
10:41am Thu 15 Nov 12

The podgeman wrote:
No they should strike, the school shouldn't be doing that its terrible. That Mrs Moynihan just wants the school to be bigger and better and this time it has backfired. My daughter got a letter today and I agree her education shouldn't suffer for a year 8 pupil, but those teachers need to show the management the can't be pushed over. It obviously shows something's wrong if the unions are paying them to go on strike, makes you wonder what we aren't told about our so called 'local' and 'outstanding' school.
only 4 staff didn't attend, Meaning a very very high percentage of staff have absolutely no problem with the appraisal system. so are you saying that these 4 teachers issues should take priority of the rest of the staff. Again they are striking because they have nothing to loose. If the unions are going to set a precedent in paying people to strike then people will not strike as a matter principal which is what strikes should be about.

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goteachers says...
4:35pm Thu 15 Nov 12

The teachers at Highcrest and all over the UK are taking lawful action that is about protecting their working conditions, pay and pensions and ultimately these things affect the kids education. Gove has brought in some shocking things that are not good for kids and parents need to support teachers in this. The appraisal system which the teachers were punitively fined for (and it wasnt just for hours they didnt work, they and others have been stopped from getting pay progression as well) is purely permissive. Schools dont have to adopt anything new. The new system Gove wants in basically puts teachers on a permanent capability process with the threat of dismissal always hanging over their heads. I want a teacher for my kids who loves their job, is treated as a professional, and is happy to be at work. I want a teacher for my kids who passes on enthusiasm and love of learning. Not a teacher who is bullied and cowed and permanently stressed. Those 4 teachers did nothing other than follow lawful action instructions that were designed to ensure kids learning didnt suffer while they stand up for themselves and for education. They were the brave ones, and not the only ones punished for it. Its the school thats needs to be told to behave. And as far as the school claims about being paid to go on strike are concerned, all unions have hardship funds to help out members on strike but they can only make contributuions to lost earnings, not pay people and certainly not all of the time. Bet there isnt a single teacher got anything for the last national day of action they had.

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The podgeman says...
8:25pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Littleskyfall wrote:
Why are some comments on here being removed? BFP are you now the victim of bullying? Are you being threatened by The Head or legal action? Most probably. This is local peoples opinions it is here for us to have 'our say'. No one can get to speak to the school. For parents, staff and local people this is the only way they can find out what is going on. We all no it is hearsay but by removing them it appears there is a lot of truth in what is being said.
Ha they must be sounds like a prison on the hill but they seem to run the town. And catflap if the staff have no problem with it would they really be striking and shutting the school down for 6 days over 4 teachers ... Just sounds a bit pathetic and I'm not doubting some teachers don't have a problem with it but the appraisal changed conditions for them and the ones who went to the meeting fell for that because they went to the meeting all I want here is the best for my daughter no new news today but I will do what ever necessary all I want is an indipendant person to examine the situation and fix it whether that be BCC or OFSTED but comments need to say up we have a freedom of speech and no one can take that away from us especially if they are a rights respecting academy.

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itstheprincipal says...
10:33pm Thu 15 Nov 12

FYI -
Highcrests Governors

Mrs.J.Thomas
Dr.S.Eastwood
Mr.P.Basham
Mrs.S.McMillan
Mrs.S.McKiernon
Mr.J.Blades
Mr.C.Turner
Mrs.C.To
Mr.P.Shaw
Mr.T.Mealing
Mrs.J.Joseph

Highcrests Senior Leadership Team

Miss S.Moynihan
Mr.I.Newton
Miss M.Oddie
Mr.G.Burke
Mrs.G.Weldon
Mrs.E.Bowden
Mr.N.Walker

These are the names you need to know re - complaints (taken from their website)

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Littleskyfall says...
11:21pm Thu 15 Nov 12

After reading these posts, those still on here and those that have been removed it is all too clear that there is much more going on at this school. The only way to find out exactly, is for either the Governors, or an independant person to go in and ask to speak to a selection of staff, this must be in confidence and these staff should not be chosen by the senior team. Maybe they should also speak to staff who have left or are due to leave and ask 'why'. Look at staff turnover is it any different to that of other local secondary schools? Highcrest obviously has very dedicated teachers/support staff as they have done a very good job in recent years and the majority of their pupils are a credit to them. T
hey deserve to be treated fairly.

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itstheprincipal says...
12:50am Fri 16 Nov 12

I feel I must complain about the BFP removing my comments last night. I fully understand that anybody has a right to report any post & that on occasions posts have to be removed for libellous or derogatory remarks. I have just re-read my posting (lucky enough I kept a copy) & I fail to see anything in there that was in the least bit scandalous. I can only agree with Littleskyfall & podgeman that you yourselves are at the wrong end of the bullying now. The NUT have now sent a text to all NUT members informing them of the intimidation & bullying going on at the school. As always Highcrest are reverting to censorship, they don’t want BCC, LA or Ofsted knowing what is going on, they know that if they are reading these posts then almost certainly these three bodies are as well, & the last thing they want is any sort of independent investigation. I would imagine they click every ‘report post’ if it is against them.
Following something podgeman said about Highcrest being a rights respecting school I thought I’d look on their website for more information. Highcrest are indeed working towards this award & state... ‘By achieving this award The Highcrest Academy can demonstrate our commitment to “equal rights, mutual respect and shared responsibility in the school & the community’...I think the local community need to be the judge of that, & if they gain this award will those that have been bullied feel better!
I will repeat what I said last night...’ The teachers at Highcrest cannot be praised highly enough, they work above & beyond the call of duty with the children & do a fantastic job, they are what makes this school outstanding. However the management style of the senior management is highly questionable’...
This whole situation is obviously about more than 4 people being ‘fined’ half a days pay, it is probably the straw that broke the camels back. But when you read of bullying, intimidation, threats & as podgeman informed us ‘extended staff meeting this morning that ran into there first lesson (so much for not affecting the kids education eh?)’ then independent investigations need to begin.
I don’t hold much hope of my post being here in 24 hours time, however I do believe in the power of freedom of speech & the power of the forum on occasions.

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Catflap says...
3:50pm Fri 16 Nov 12

The podgeman wrote:
Littleskyfall wrote: Why are some comments on here being removed? BFP are you now the victim of bullying? Are you being threatened by The Head or legal action? Most probably. This is local peoples opinions it is here for us to have 'our say'. No one can get to speak to the school. For parents, staff and local people this is the only way they can find out what is going on. We all no it is hearsay but by removing them it appears there is a lot of truth in what is being said.
Ha they must be sounds like a prison on the hill but they seem to run the town. And catflap if the staff have no problem with it would they really be striking and shutting the school down for 6 days over 4 teachers ... Just sounds a bit pathetic and I'm not doubting some teachers don't have a problem with it but the appraisal changed conditions for them and the ones who went to the meeting fell for that because they went to the meeting all I want here is the best for my daughter no new news today but I will do what ever necessary all I want is an indipendant person to examine the situation and fix it whether that be BCC or OFSTED but comments need to say up we have a freedom of speech and no one can take that away from us especially if they are a rights respecting academy.
because the unions are reimbursing them their salary. What would you do. work or stay at home for the same money.

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The podgeman says...
4:57pm Fri 16 Nov 12

Well not really rarely the unions pay to go on strike and I'd do what I enjoy where I'm having a laugh with colleges, I'm sure pay was never in the equation when the strike aroused. But what we need to retain in mind was that the school brought in an optional change to their working system where other schools didn't bring them in and a lovely front page to the bucks free press just a shame their is no comment from the all famous Mrs Moynihan bit disappointed with this I have to say.

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itstheprincipal says...
12:48am Sat 17 Nov 12

I was glad to see this all made the front & third page of the BFP, I to was not surprised that Miss Moynihan made no comments about the situation. She only seems to be wheeled out when there is good news, any trouble & she seems to disappear!
I note from the BFP that the Chair of Governors at Highcrest states...’the Academy was following policies required by the Government...’ This is not true & another case of the school trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the staff, public, local community & the BFP, & not for the first time.
Under the Governments new arrangements for teacher appraisal and capability on the Department of Education’s website it clearly states & I quote ...’These regulations DO NOT apply in academies, Free Schools, other independent schools or sixth-form colleges...’
From the above posts it is becoming all too clear that there is a whole can of worms just waiting to be opened at Highcrest. Certainly from the DOE website it proves Highcrest are selective with the truth, there certainly seems to be instances of staff bullying & intimidation as shown by the NUT, & there certainly seem to be many instances where the local community are not happy with the school or to be exact the Senior Management.
I feel sorry for the teachers in having to put up with these working conditions, they do such an exceptional job. As I said before it is becoming quite obvious that this intended strike is about far more than four members of staff losing half a day’s pay.
The governors need to start enquiries now,however any investigation needs to be done by an outside body.
I myself will be contacting BCC, Dept of Education & Ofsted this weekend to demand that Highcrest be investigated, I urge others to do the same even if it is just a link to this forum,questions need to be answered.

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