“Battle for Teachers’ Rights at North East England: Striking Against Unjust Pension Plans in Elite Private Schools”

Teachers at two prestigious private schools in the north-east of England have initiated strike action in response to plans by the schools’ management to terminate their employment contracts and rehire them under less favorable pension terms. The strike involves over 100 educators from Dame Allan’s Schools in Newcastle, institutions where tuition fees amount to £13,000 per year. The members of the National Education Union (NEU) and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) commenced their strike on Tuesday and plan to continue it on March 26-27 and April 16-18.

Beth Farhat, the northern regional secretary of the NEU, condemned the schools’ decision to pursue the “fire and rehire” strategy, emphasizing its detrimental impact on staff, future recruitment efforts, and students. John Hall of the NASUWT echoed these sentiments, noting that while teachers typically avoid resorting to industrial action, they feel compelled to do so in response to the threat posed by the “fire and rehire” tactic and the schools’ insistence on proceeding with statutory consultations.

David Arthur, chair of the Governors at Dame Allan’s Schools, defended the decision, citing financial challenges stemming from increased pension contribution levels. He explained that, like many other independent schools across the country, Dame Allan’s Schools had engaged in consultations regarding the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) due to escalating costs amid economic uncertainty. Arthur underscored the necessity of taking action to ensure the schools’ sustainability in light of these financial pressures.