Dear Parents/Carers,

Industrial action by the NEU

Following on from the letter we sent last week informing parents of the planned industrial action by the National Education Union (NEU) on Wednesday 1st February 2023, we have made the difficult
decision to only open the school to selected students. We will therefore only be open to Year 11 students on this day and some vulnerable children. The families of vulnerable children will be called directly to notify them and explain these arrangements.
We will always prioritise, as far as possible, those students who have public (GCSE) exams this summer in addition to identified key groups of learners. Year 11 students will follow their timetables and will have normal lessons on this day – it is important that they attend school as normal. Attendance for Year 11 students will count towards their overall attendance figures which many colleges and sixth forms request when they apply to them – their attendance is very important.

This strike is part of a planned series of national industrial action organised by the NEU as part of a national dispute between this union and the government regarding teachers’ pay, and not direct action against their school. We have significant numbers of staff at the Boulevard Academy who are members of the NEU and strike action is further complicated by the fact that:

• There is no requirement for a union to inform us how many members of staff will take strike
  action.
• Union members are under no obligation to inform employers in advance of their intention to
  strike.

I’m sorry about the potential disruption this may cause. It is my hope that the government and the unions will resolve this situation as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely
Mrs J Mitchell
CEO/Principal