Strike action set in row over extended school day

School workers in Nottinghamshire are set to go on strike in protest at plans to extend the day for students and teachers.

of the National Education Union (NEU) at Outwood Grange Academies Trust in Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Worksop said they were planning to strike for six days in June against the trust's plans, which will add an extra 30 minutes onto the day across its 28 secondary schools in England.

The NEU says it will lead "to a substantial increase in workload and a struggle to retain teachers".

In a statement Outwood Grange Academies Trust said it has "constructively engaged with our trade union partners and our colleagues since October".

Strike action is planned for 3, 10 and 11 June, and for three days from 17 June.

Pickets will be in place at Outwood Grange Academy in Kirkby, and Outwood Academy Portland and Outwood Academy Valley, both in Worksop, from 07:30 to 09:00 BST on each of the above days.

Nick Raine, the NEU's senior regional officer for the East Midlands region, said "voted overwhelmingly" for strike action because they said they were not given a say on the changes.

"They decided to unilaterally extend the school day - to put extra lesson time in, etc - without consulting with us or our ," he said.

"Our are dissatisfied, because they believe this will increase workload dramatically at a time when we've already got fewer resources, and stretched and class sizes, and where we've got trouble retaining teachers.

" want to negotiate with Outwood Grange to come to some sort of reasonable agreement that would suit both parties, but so far we've been unable to do that."

Outwood Grange Academies Trust said it is "exceptionally disappointed" at the strike action, adding its current arrangement means its school day is "short of the government's 32.5-hour-a-week minimum expectation".

"The small change we have proposed will mean students can learn more and achieve even stronger outcomes, and will still mean the school day is within the time as set out in the government's school teachers' pay and conditions document," a statement said.

"We have approached this as a genuine consultation and have taken on board to make changes to our original proposal."

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