A York school will be shut tomorrow (Wednesday, 30 April) and another will be closed to most pupils due to teacher strikes.
St George’s RC Primary School on Fishergate will be closed all day and All Saints secondary school will be closed to everyone apart from the exam students in Years 11 and 13.
It’s due to more than 100 teachers and support staff from the National Education Union walking out.
The union is in dispute with the Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust (NPCAT) which runs both schools.
It accuses the Middlesbrough-based trust of refusing to make its finances more transparent and accountable to York schools.
Michael Kearney, NEU secretary for city of York, said “huge amounts of money” are being taken from York schools for services “which we deem to be inadequate or more expensive than local options”.
He added that CEO pay has increased to a “whopping minimum of £245,000 – a 75 per cent increase in four years”.
In response, the trust said it has restructured its board and a new chair, Karen Siedle, had been in touch with the union.
But last minute talks broke down and the strikes will now go ahead. Further walkouts are planned on 24 and 25 June.
A spokesperson for the trust said: “A constructive meeting took place yesterday between NEU representatives and members of NPCAT’s new board of directors, including chair Karen Siedle.
“A further meeting with union representatives has been arranged for Monday May 19 to continue this positive dialogue.
“We want to assure all our staff that we are listening to their concerns and hope to work together to build trust and come to an agreement.”
Mr Kearney said: “Whilst we welcomed talks to avert the strikes yesterday, and it was heartening to see them listening and understanding our concerns, unfortunately, nothing tangible was out on the table for us to negotiate over.
“We have got dates to speak to the academy in the near future and we hope that they will bring some solid proposals needed to make the academy a more transparent and accountable organisation, and to being rebuilding the trust between themselves and educators.”