Ringwood School Confirms Closure Due to Strike Action

By ringwoodnews | Monday, November 28, 2011, 15:01

Ringwood School will be closed this Wed 30th November due to industrial action. The school confirmed the closure in a message to parents/carers on its website.

Ringwood School confirms closure due to industrial action 30 Nov 2011.

The Chair of Governors posted the following message:

Dear Parent/Carer,

I am sure that you are now aware that a number of professional associations

and trade unions have recently balloted their members, regarding industrial

action on the 30th November, in protest against the government's proposals on

public sector pensions.

This action is not against the school itself but is part of national

industrial action organised by professional associations and trade unions about

changes to the pension schemes of their members.

We have now received notification from a number of professional associations

and trade unions that a substantial number of teachers and support staff are

likely to take industrial action on this day. Teachers who are not taking

industrial action are not permitted to undertake duties for those taking

action.

Neither the Governing Body of the school nor the Headteacher is legally

allowed to close the school 'in sympathy' with the strike and we will not do so.

However, we are required to consider many issues to include: a risk assessment

taking into consideration the school's ability to provide for the adequate

health and safety of students; the number of staff available to undertake duties

at break and lunchtimes; whether First Aid arrangements will be sufficient in

the absence of certain staff; and whether appropriate levels of supervision can

be maintained throughout the school day and the quality of learning and teaching

that we will be able to offer as a result of absence.

Having reviewed all the information available to us it is our decision that

we cannot open for students on Wednesday 30th November,

because we do not have sufficient staff available and it is therefore

not safe to open. No external examinations are due to be held on this day. I

realise that the closure of the school will create difficulties for some

parents. We have taken the decision early to provide as much warning as possible

for parents so that alternative arrangements can be made.

We must all hope that the issues over which the industrial action has arisen

are resolved as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Michael Macario Chair of Governors