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Cllr Rob Stanton says he does not support strike action
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Teachers ditch classes to strike - full list of schools

By Lewis Rudd
June 29, 2011

Scores of schoolchildren across Wokingham can expect a day off tomorrow as hundreds of teachers prepare to walk out of work in a continuing row over pensions.

Four secondary and 18 infant and primary schools across the borough will be closed because of staff shortages.

This is because staff belonging to teaching unions are to down pens and pencils and form picket lines in response to proposed changes to public sector pensions by central Government.

Another 13 schools will suffer part closures and reduced timetables as a result of the industrial action, while 25 will remain unaffected.

It is understood as many as 400 of the 800 staff belonging to the National Union of Teachers (NUT) in Wokingham are preparing to walk out.

They are likely to be joined by members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) and the University and College Union (UCU), who have also been balloted about strike action.

Members are livid with central Government proposals to reform the public sector pension structure.

Proposed changes include increasing staff pension contributions from six per cent to nine per cent and increasing the retirement age for men and women to 66 from 2020.

Ministers and union leaders met earlier this week to discuss ways to avoid any possible strike actions, however, it appears these negotiations have broken down.

Some 750,000 teachers and civil servants across the UK are set to walk out of their jobs tomorrow.

The decision to strike has been criticised and condemned by many across the country, while in Wokingham, Councillor Rob Stanton has added his voice to the list of sceptics.

The executive member for children’s services at Wokingham Borough Council said he “regrets” such action is being taken, adding that it is the children who are inevitably going to suffer.

He believes, however, the number of closed and part-closed schools across Wokingham could change over the next 24-hours.

“This is a movable list as a lot of negotiations are going on with a lot of schools as we speak,” he said.

“That will change, but whether it will be added to or lowered I don’t know, but it is not fixed in stone.

“I do regret this [strike action] I really do. I don’t honestly think striking solves anything because they will have to come to an agreement eventually.

“As far as disruptions at schools are concerned I regret it and hope as many schools as possible stay open, but one has to be mindful that this is done in a safe environment, which is key, because you cannot have 400 children and one teacher.”

Cllr Stanton went on to say he remains hopeful the two parties can come to an agreement to avoid strike action, event if “it is getting on for the 11th hour”.

When asked if he has sympathies with those striking, the ward member for Finchampstead said: “No, because I do not support strike action. Concerns about pensions, I sympathise with that but I cannot support strikes.”

- Children under eight affected by the industrial action swim for free at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Rushey Way, Lower Earley, tomorrow.

The closures: (this list will be updated throughout the day)

Full closures:

Beechwood Primary School, Woodley

The Bulmershe School, Woodley

Colleton CofE Primary School, Twyford

Hatch Ride Primary School, Crowthorne

Hawthorns Primary School, Woosehill

Highwood Primary School, Woodley

Hillside Primary School, Lower Earley

Keep Hatch Primary School, Wokingham

Maiden Erlegh School, Lower Earley

Nine Mile Ride Primary School, Wokingham

The Piggott School, Twyford

Polehampton CofE Junior School, Twyford

Radstock Primary School, Twyford

Rivermead Primary School, Woodley

Waingels College, Woodley

Walter Infant School, Wokingham

Whiteknights Primary School, Shinfield

Willow Bank Infant School, Woodley

Willow Bank Junior School, Woodley

Winnersh Primary School

Woodley CofE Primary School.

Foxwood, Wokingham.

Part closures:

Aldryington Primary School, Earley

Earley St Peters CE Primary School

Hawkedon Primary School, Lower Earley

Oaklands Infant School, Crowthorne

St Dominic Savio School, Woodley

St Paul’s CofE Junior School, Wokingham

St Sebastian CE Primary School, Wokingham

The Emmbrook School

The Forest School, Winnersh

The Holt School, Wokingham

St Crispin’s School, Wokingham

Addington School, Woodley.

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Most recent user comments 7 of 7

And maybe you should read this story, Oh No, before making childish generalisations about the teaching profession - http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2095117_the_holt_teachers_are_top_of_the_class

LarryS
30/06/2011 at 12:24

Oh No - if they were cowards they would carry on allowing themselves to be kicked again and again. They have stood up for themselves - that is hardly a cowardly thing to do. They deserve respect for taking what must have been a very difficult decision.

The fact that people like you and Jolly Chap are so cross is because you know full well that teachers do a vital job. If it were handbag designers going on strike, noone would care. But the jobs teachers do are vital to our country and they deserve to be treated with respect and care. Quite frankly, Oh No, your comments are a disgrace. It takes a very special skill to be a teacher - I couldn't do it. But thank God there are people who do. Pathetic, ill informed comments like yours will do nothing to resolve this situation.

LarryS
30/06/2011 at 12:17

These teachers all know they've got a cushy number. In the private sector if you are worth more you go and get it. Are they good teachers - possibly some are but a lot are lazy and parents have to pay for extra tuition because of poor/incompetent teachers. Most people hold teachers in low esteem, lets get the private sector involved and get rid of most of our skiving wasteful public sector. SHAME ON ALL STRIKERS - YOU ARE ALL COWARDS

Oh no
29/06/2011 at 13:48

.......and furthermore.

Quite what a teacher has to do to qualify these days baffles me. A basic grasp of economics should be mandatory. We are in a worldwide recession and everyone is taking it on the chin. What makes them, the rest of the public sector and the Greeks exempt?

Jolly Chap, Wokingham
29/06/2011 at 13:46

It would appear our Lefty friends are unable to digest what the private sector has done for the past 5 years. Final salary pensions are economically untenable, people are living longer. So, we either drastically reduce pensions, increase retirement age to 70 (both very bitter pills for our mollycoddled friends in public service) or, a much diluted version of each.

And as for Mr Dent in Wargrave - Of course it's fair, they still have jobs don't they?? If they're unhappy with the Terms and conditions then move on. No wonder teenagers today think they will get what they want through throwing a tantrum if the teachers' example is anything to go by........

Jolly Chap, Wokingham
29/06/2011 at 13:33

Councillor Stanton says that he disagrees with strikes as a principle. So what does he propose workers should do in situations where their conditions and benefits are under threat? Simply grin and bear it? This is what I don't understand about the Conservatives. Nobody enjoys strikes, but their pathological demonisation of any industrial action borders on the ridiculous. They forget that unions are made up of working people- just because they don't instinctively vote Tory doesn't mean that they are suddenly some alien consciousness intent on wrecking the economy.

The fact is that central government has systematically refused to negotiate fairly with unions. They have made pre-emptive, unilateral announcements about delaying retirement age and changing terms and conditions of pensions. The Hutton report explicitly said that the cost of public sector pensions would not spiral out of control, and yet the government are still pushing that excuse. I have a lot of sympathy for public sector workers who argue that they are being forced to pay the price for a deficit and financial crisis caused by private sector banks.

Whether or not you agree with what teachers and other public sector workers are asking for, it is hard to argue that they have been treated fairly by the government, who have rendered negotiations meaningless and have launched PR campaigns to demonise them.