Dear Parents/Carers,
As you will be aware, the strike action scheduled for the 14th February was postponed due to some progress in the talks between the unions and Welsh Government. This industrial action was postponed to the 2nd March to allow for further negotiations. Despite these negotiations, there has not been a sufficient breakthrough and, therefore, the NEU teaching union has announced a second day of national strike action on the 2nd March, 2023. This dispute is not with the school, but with the Welsh Government over pay and the funding for schools. We accept that this continued action is frustrating and disruptive for parents. For further information on why teaching unions are taking this action, please read the additional document I attached to the last letter sent out in January.
As a large proportion of our teaching staff will be involved in this strike action, I have again had to take the decision that the school will be closed to all students for that day. This is due to not having enough staff available to safely supervise pupils within the site. This decision has not been taken lightly, and follows a thorough risk assessment of the situation. The school needs a certain number of staff to be present to function and keep everybody safe. Due to the nature of the industrial action, no online learning will take place on the day of the strike.
The school will reopen as normal on Friday, 3rd March.
If your son/daughter is entitled to free school meals, they are eligible to pick up a packed lunch from the main reception of the school between 12.00 and 12.30pm. We would encourage eligible students to take this offer up.
Further strike action is proposed for the 15th and 16th of March.
We hope that talks between Welsh Government and the unions will reach a resolution before this date; however, if they do not, I will communicate closer to the time about arrangements for those days.
Many thanks for your continued support.
Neil Foley – BSc, MA
Pennaeth/Headteacher