24th February 2023
Dear Parents/Carers
Notification of strike action and closure on Thursday, 2nd March 2023
We have been informed by NEU Trade Union that there will be a day of strike action by their teacher members on Thursday, 2nd March, 2023. The dispute is with the Secretary of State for Education with regards to the NEU’s view that there has been a ‘Failure to provide a fully funded above-inflation pay rise (as measured by September 2022 RPI). A fully funded pay rise is one that is funded by additional resources sufficient to provide the above-inflation pay rise’ (NEU).
As Headteacher, I have assessed the impact of the strike action on the school and have decided that the school will be closed to all students with the exception of year 11, who will continue with their exams as scheduled, as well as any child who has an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) is looked after (CLA), or is subject to a Child in Need Plan or a Child Protection plan. The school will be contacting parents of EHCP, CIN and CLA students directly to discuss provision for Thursday, 2nd March, 2023.
If your child is in receipt of free school meals, they may request a ‘packed lunch’ to be collected from the school reception at 12 noon on Wednesday 1st March 2023. In order to ensure that there is no waste, please confirm your details by emailing generaloffice@bishopstopfords.enfield.sch.uk by noon Monday, 27th February, 2023.
This decision to close the school partially has not been taken lightly, and we regret having to take this action, but feel that there will not be sufficient staff in school to ensure the safety and well-being of the students.
Whilst at home on this day, we encourage our students to complete independent study. This will enable them to continue to strengthen their core knowledge and understanding of the topics that they are learning in school. In order to support with this, students can access the following learning sites to:
Review and extend prior learning
Prepare for upcoming learning that will be taking place in school
Revise and prepare for upcoming assessments and exams
Complete homelearning tasks
Learning sites
https://classroom.thenational.academy/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/levels/z4kw2hv (Key Stage 3 - Year 7, 8 and 9)
https://vle.mathswatch.co.uk/vle/ (MathsWatch)
https://corbettmaths.com/5-a-day/gcse/ (Maths)
https://members.gcsepod.com/login (all subjects)
https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/# (Maths, physics, biology, chemistry, economics, geography, English, psychology, computer science)
There are two further strikes planned on the following dates for the London area: -
- Wednesday 15th March 2023
- Thursday 16th March 2023
Each strike will be assessed individually and wherever possible, I will try to keep the school open.
Please note: normal school hours will resume should the NEU decide not to strike.
Our sincere apologies for the difficulties that these arrangements will cause parents/carers, but unfortunately these are circumstances beyond our control.
The school will open as normal on Friday, 3rd March, 2023.Yours sincerely,
Mrs T Day, BA (Hons), NPQH
HeadteacherC/O Elaine Neacy, PA to Headteacher
Bishop Stopford’s School
Brick Lane
Enfield
EN1 3PU
