Staff at Walsall special school to strike over plans to join academy trust
Staff at a special school in Walsall are set to strike in opposition to being taken over by an academy trust.
Workers at Elmwood School in Rushall who are part of the National Educational Union (NEU) will walk out on Tuesday (March 11), Wednesday and Thursday.
The strike action comes in response to plans for the King George Crescent secondary school to join Matrix Academy Trust, which runs a number of schools in Walsall including Barr Beacon School and Bloxwich Academy.
An NEU member at the school said: "I’m devastated by the school plans to lose its independence as a community school serving its pupils.
"The governors need to listen and keep Elmwood as Elmwood not part of a massive academy chain."
Staff had planned to strike on the week commencing February 24 but the action was suspended. They however walked out for two days last week.
The NEU said staff have been "especially angered" by Governors at the school allegedly refusing to let them vote on whether to join the Matrix.
A spokesperson for the union said: "This is especially frustrating as when balloted initially, the NEU members (representing 91 per cent of the teaching staff) voted 100 per cent against academisation.
"They are also saddened on behalf of the pupils for the opportunities that they will inevitably miss out on, as budgets will inevitably be reduced with a move to academisation under Matrix, as they take a larger top slice of our budget than Walsall [Council] currently do.
"The school have also failed to consult parents over the plans despite them being discussed as far back as July last year.
"The take over by Matrix will see Elmwood School lose its governing body, with staff and parent governors losing their voice in the governance of the school.
"Elmwood pupils have a range of social, emotional, and mental health needs and benefit greatly from having governing body who understands their needs."
The school has posted a notice on its website to parents and carers advising there will be a partial school opening while the strike action is underway.
On Tuesday, the school will open for classes 7a, 7b, 7c, 10a and 11b (as well as additional invites to Key Stage 4 pupils from 12.30pm), on Wednesday it will open for 7b, 8a, 10a, 10b, 11a and 11b (plus additional invites to a selection of Year 9 pupils to support their Key Stage 4 options) and on Thursday it will open for 8a, 8b, 9a, 10a, 10b, 11a and 11b.
Matrix Academy Trust has declined comment.
