Strike stalemate at troubled Rawmarsh school

Fresh talks to avert further strikes at a Rotherham school failed to reach agreement today.

Classes were again disrupted when around 40 teachers walked out at Rawmarsh Community School on yesterday—the fourth day of strikes since a 25 per cent cut in teaching posts was announced.

A meeting between NUT union representatives and head Dr Stuart Wilson today ended in a stalemate.

Parents, teachers from other schools and other trade unionists are being asked to join the picket line during three more days of strike action next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Their union, the NUT, says the action has already seen the job losses reduced from but they have hit back at claims by headteacher Dr Stuart Wilson that the cash crisis is simply due to falling school rolls.

Most staff who are being axed have already received notice of redundancy by phone and NUT members question why the debts have spiralled since Dr Wilson took over.

He said: “Our student numbers have gone down by 219, that alone means that the school receives £876,000 less.

“The school has to reduce its staff to match the reduction in students.”