TEACHERS at Gable Hall School in Corringham walked out of the building this morning, to join union officials as part of what appears to be a fast-increasing crisis within the school's current ruling academy trust, the Ortu Federation, and soon-to-take-over Mossbourne Federation.

A detailed Thurrock Nub News story yesterday (Tuesday, 10 December) highlighted the concerns of members of the NASUWT teaching union and other staff members as budget-slashing measures are brought in, cutting education offers and the number of pupils at Gable Hall and its sister school, Hassenbrook Academy.

Many teaching and support staff jobs will be lost and those that stay will have significant changes to their working practices.

A ballot on industrial action took place and NASUWT members gave notice they would engage in 'action short of strike'.

That action includes teachers:

• not implementing any existing or new policies, initiatives or working practices (including classroom organisation, etc.) which have not been the subject of consultation and agreement with the NASUWT;
• refusing to attend more than one after school staff meeting per week of a maximum one hour and not in a week which coincides with a parental consultation evening;
• refusing to take part in lining up students prior to lesson start;
• refusing to undertake supervision of pupils during their lunch break and may exercise their right to leave the school site during their lunch break;
• refusing to undertake cover for absence, unless they are employed on a contract wholly or mainly to provide cover for absence;
• undertaking only self-directed planning, preparation and assessment activities during their Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time.

The union says it gave all appropriate notifications under employment laws of its action - but it appears a confrontation has arisen in school this morning – with teachers saying they were left with no alternative but to walk out.

NASUWT Eastern Region national executive member Katherine Moore and regional organiser Kim Vollerthun were outside the school gates to support colleagues and to talk to parents about the situation.

Mr Vollerthun explained what action his members were planning and said they did not want to strike and affect teaching, but they felt they had to make a stance by rejecting changes to ancillary duties with the Trusts are proposing.

It appeared that the school day was getting underway without incident, but minutes after Mr Vollerthun finished speaking, a number of teachers walked out of the school and joined him on the railings to make a protest. That exodus became a steady stream and at least 25 teachers were soon holding union banners.

One, close to tears, explained what had gone on inside the school, saying: "We did not want to stop teaching, but much of the additional things we are being asked to do, we do not believe are right.

"We think it is within the rule of law to refuse to those things but the Trust is taking a different view and we were told if we did not do them, we would not be paid anything.

"We were told we could stay within the confines of the school but that seemed pointless, so we made the decision to leave. I can't really believe this is happening. It's so unfair.

"We are being treated so badly by the schools and the Mossbourne Trust and its CEO who are pressing us into this confrontation mode.

"Maybe they think that by effectively forcing us to walk out they will get the public and parents' sympathy, but I don't think so.

"What they are doing is hurting the children. They are also lying to the children, at assembly this morning the head explained why we had union flags outside by telling students that the teachers were refusing to teach them. That is not true. Teachers are not refusing to teach – we are refusing to be bullied into doing work that will stop us teaching as effectively as we would wish to.

"It just incredibly upsetting and could have been avoided by talking to us, not dictating to us."

The teacher was backed up by parents who had joined the protest. One told Nub News: "We got a message last night telling us to ensure that children had trainers and warm clothing as they would be going outside. It was not clear what for, some parents say they believe the school wanted to get the kids outside on a litter pick, because they knew they would not have the staff to teach them inside.

"I did not send my child in today, I don't want him outside in this cold and wet when he doesn't need to be, he's vulnerable to illness as it is and I don't want him made sick by what's happening.

"What is going on at Gable Hall is just not right."

A statement from NASUWT says: "The NASUWT teachers of Gable Hall began action short of strike action today over concerns about adverse management practices which are detrimental to them.

"NASUWT members have sought to minimise any disruption to pupils' education at the school. However, the employer has responded by threatening to lock out more than three-quarters of the teaching staff at Gable Hall School.

"The school has written to NASUWT to state it intends to lock out members and will refuse to allow them entry to the school, refuse to allow them to teach or to pay them.

"It defies any reasonable or rational response for an employer to say that it would prefer to see teachers sitting at home rather than teaching their pupils. Yet that is precisely what the Mossbourne Federation is doing.

"We believe the employer should be focusing its energies in seeking with working with us to find a resolution to the legitimate concerns that our members have about their working conditions, rather than deploying these bullying tactics.

"We would ask parents and careers to support the teachers of your children by writing to the school and raising your concern about the way it is being managed."

On Monday Head of Gable Hall, Sam Cooper, wrote to parents to say: "While we hope that teaching and learning and the usual school day will not be affected, I must inform you that should the action proceed there is a possibility that some year groups may be asked to remain at home, or sent home, throughout the course of the day.

There was no union representation at Hassenbrook in Stanford-le-Hope this morning. Ms Moore told Nub News that members there had not been put under as much pressure as those at Gable hall, though there was considerable upset and dissatisfaction at what had happened to them. She could not rule out industrial action ultimately affecting Hassenbrook too. 

Gable Hall's administrative team, Mr Cooper and both Ortu and Mossbourne Federations have been contacted by Nub News and asked to comment. To date there has been no response.