Parents' anger as top Wolverhampton school to close due to teachers' strike

The action is being taken by members of the NASUWT teachers' union at St Peter's Collegiate School in Wolverhampton – who are unhappy a promised pay rise has been delayed.

The first strike will take place this Thursday with more planned next Tuesday and Wednesday and a three-day closure scheduled from April 19 to 21.

Directors of the Church of England Academy say they have been left with no choice but to close the Compton Park site because there would not be enough staff to ensure the safety of pupils.

The cash-strapped school says it is committed to paying the salary increase, including back pay, when the relevant funding comes through.

Parents have voiced their anger over a series of strikes planned by teachers at St Peter's Collegiate School in Wolverhampton.

They accuse the teachers of 'bad timing' with important GSCE exams approaching and say their children's education should come first.

School chiefs say they 'bitterly regret' the union's decision.

News of the six one-day strikes, which start this Thursday, was broken on the school's website. Parents were informed by text yesterday.

Harinder Sensi, aged 49, of Penn, said: "Children's education should be more important than anything else, regardless of anyone's pay. Teachers get paid enough. The pupils should be considered first and foremost and how these strikes could potentially affect their studies."

Anne Harris, from Perton, whose granddaughter is in Year 8, said: "I don't think teachers should be striking. A lot of pupils have important exams coming up and it's right before half-term, so missing any more days should not be happening."

Neelem Ajimal, aged 40, of Chapel Ash, who has children in Year 7 and Year 9, said: "With the two-week half term coming up it is very bad timing. We want the best for them as parents and for them to study hard. There is enough distractions for children these days, teachers striking shouldn't be another one."

Referring to the school's inability to pay the annual teachers' wage rises, Colin Hopkins, chair of directors, said the school faced 'challenging financial circumstances' as a result of increased costs in relation to National Insurance contributions, a pension deficit, a reduction in the General Annual Grant, historic overstaffing and additional expenditure due to the aftermath of the BSF programme.

The directors had 'no other option' than to propose that the pay increase be postponed until EFA funding was secured.

St Peter's made eight teaching redundancies, mainly support staff, last term but say no more are planned.

Mr Hopkins said: "As every effort has been made to preserve as many jobs as possible, this additional measure was felt to be absolutely necessary to avoid compromising the necessary staffing levels and teaching quality. The Academy fully explained this strategy to the unions."