Teachers at St Austin's Catholic Primary School in Liverpool are set to walk out on strike over the Archdiocese of Liverpool's academy plans, marking the second school in the city to take industrial action. Three Liverpool MPs have also signed a letter to the Archbishop expressing concerns about the proposals.
The Archdiocese has proposed placing more than 200 schools in Merseyside and surrounding areas into three large academy trusts. The plans were first revealed in May, and opposition has grown since then, with teachers and parents questioning both the decision and the process.
Six Days of Strike Action Planned
Staff at St Austin's, represented by the National Education Union (NEU), are planning six days of strike action. The walkouts are scheduled for Thursday November 19, Tuesday November 24, Wednesday November 25, Tuesday December 1, Wednesday December 2, and Thursday December 3.
St Austin's is due to be moved into the St Joseph Catholic Multi-Academy Trust under the plans, the same trust that St Anthony of Padua Primary School in Mossley Hill was set to join. Staff at St Anthony of Padua walked out in September, supported by parents who said the school was being forced into a fundamental change without proper consultation.
A letter from St Austin's headteacher Colette Hickey to parents and carers said the school has a duty to assess whether it can operate safely on each strike day. The letter noted that staff who are NEU members are not required to inform the headteacher in advance whether they intend to take part in industrial action, and that any decisions regarding class or school closures will be communicated as soon as possible.
Union Says 100% Voted in Favour
The NEU said that 100% of staff who voted in the St Austin's strike ballot voted in favour of striking, on a turnout of 83%.
NEU industrial organiser Roz Morton said: "St Austin's is a well-regarded, popular school at the heart of its community with a strong track record of success, both academically and pastorally."
Morton added: "The last thing they want to do is disrupt the education of the pupils they care so deeply about. NEU members feel very strongly that governors should commit to retaining the character of the school as it is – there is no benefit to imposing a drastic, unwanted change on a settled school community, working well in its current circumstances."
Morton said there is a "very simple solution to this dispute" and that it is "in the gift of the school to resolve this by making an offer to maintain the current employment relationship." She added that the process is being imposed on St Austin's from the outside, leaving members "with no choice but to go into dispute with our current employer to try and save the school for the benefit of the families it serves."
MPs Sign Letter of Concern
The strike action follows a meeting held last week between parents, governors, and Archdiocese leaders. Parents who attended told the ECHO they felt the message from the Archdiocese was less about consultation and more about implementing a decision that had already been made.
Three Liverpool MPs have signed a letter to Archbishop of Liverpool John Sherrington raising further issues with the proposals. The letter is written by Liverpool Wavertree MP Paula Barker and signed by Liverpool Garston MP Maria Eagle and Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson, as well as MPs in areas like Preston, Lancaster, and Warrington that are also covered by the Archdiocese.
The letter states: "As you will know, there are differing views on the extent of any educational benefits that academisation brings", before adding: "We are also concerned that the transfer process has the potential to disrupt the stability of schools across the region which are currently serving their pupils, parents and communities well."
Sharing the letter on social media, Ms Johnson said: "The Archdiocese has announced plans for all Catholic schools in Liverpool & Lancashire to become academies, despite significant opposition from teachers & parents. Alongside Paula Barker and other MPs, I've written to the Archbishop to express our opposition to these plans."
The Archdiocese has not responded to recent requests for comment. Speaking to the ECHO in May, Archbishop Sherrington said: "Catholic education is very important because we are educating these children, these young people, in the context of the Church, in the context of their religious faith." He said the plans aim to develop the whole person, including information, emotion, spirituality, art, and sport, and that others can be attracted into the schools if there are places.
