Teachers call a halt to strike action

A teachers’ union has said it has called off a two-day strike which would have shut down lessons for two year groups at a Sunderland school.

Farringdon Community Academy sent letters home to say that Year 9 and Year 10 would be closed today and Thursday, March 12, due to action by the NASUWT over “workload issues.”

The Echo understands that three other days of action, on Tuesday, March 25, to the Thursday, are still scheduled to go ahead.

However, just hours before the end of Monday’s school day, the union confirmed it would no longer be staging this week’s walkout and planned to return to negotiations with school bosses.

In a statement, its regional organiser said: “NASUWT has called off the strike action planned for this week to allow us to work with the school to seek resolution to the working practises in the school that has created significant workload issues for our members.”

Farringdon Academy has been contacted by the Echo.

In a letter sent to parents before the strike was cancelled, headteacher Neal Holder said it was with “great regret” he had to inform them of the strike plans and attempts had been made to avoid the action.

He added: “As you are aware, we are a school which requires improvement and since my arrival in January 2018, I have made changes to improve the academy’s overall performance.

“We have many excellent, committed, professional staff who work tirelessly at Farringdon Community Academy in the interests of your children,” added the headteacher.