The latest round of historic strike action at Glasgow independent school Hutchesons’ Grammar has been called off after the school proposed delaying controversial plans for teachers’ pension arrangements by a year.
On 19 May, teachers at the school began a programme of strike action over their removal from the Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme (STPS), in what was believed to be the first-ever strike action at an independent school in Scotland.
However, it emerged this afternoon that two further days of strike action due to take place tomorrow have now been withdrawn by the NASUWT teaching union. Later in the afternoon, the EIS union also confirmed it would suspend strike action scheduled for this week.
The NASUWT said it took the decision after the school proposed a one-year delay to plans that would see all teachers transferred out of the STPS. The union said the delay will allow “further negotiations in the new academic year and, in order to facilitate further talks, the NASUWT has agreed to withdraw the action planned for this week as a gesture of goodwill”.
The NASUWT stressed, however, that the “formal trade dispute with Hutchesons’ Grammar will remain in place for now” and that it has “not accepted the employers’ suggested compulsory implementation date for all teachers to move to the defined contribution scheme on 1 September 2024”.
The union said members at the school took two days of strike action last week “after the school threatened to sack teachers if they did not agree to the transfer of their pensions to the new scheme”.
A spokesperson for the teaching union with the most members at the school, the EIS, said: “The school’s amended proposal suggests only a delay, not a cancellation, of their plans to compel all of Hutchesons’ teachers to accept new contracts with inferior pension provision.
“In agreeing to suspend this week’s strike action, the EIS branch is very clear that we expect meaningful negotiation with the school in the near future with a view to further amending their proposals to make them acceptable to the teaching staff at Hutchesons’.”
EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said: “EIS members at Hutchesons’ should be commended for the courageous stance they have taken, and will continue to take, against the damaging fire and rehire tactics deployed by the school. The campaign to protect teachers’ pensions rights at Hutchesons’ is not over, but the EIS has agreed to suspend this week’s strikes as an act of good faith to allow time for further negotiation.
“The management of the school must not squander this opportunity, and must engage in constructive discussions with trade union representatives to agree a fair and acceptable resolution to this damaging dispute.”
NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: “That we have secured this delay in the introduction of any changes to teachers’ pensions is solely due to the strength and resolve of members to take strike action and stand up for their rights.”
Mike Corbett, the NASUWT national official for Scotland, said: “The delay is a welcome development and allows time for further negotiation in the new academic year and, importantly, an opportunity to establish exactly what is proposed regarding employer contribution rates in the STPS.”
A Hutchesons’ Grammar School spokesperson said: “We are pleased that the NASUWT has called off this week’s strikes and we are committed to further talks going forward to resolve the dispute.”
Before the first Hutchesons’ Grammar teacher strikes on 19 May by EIS union members, the school had said it was offering “a different pension, not an inferior one” and the STPS was being replaced with “a generous defined contribution scheme”. It said that it was “necessary to cap one of the school’s biggest costs”, given “current financial headwinds”.
Meanwhile, days after its imminent closure was announced, another Scottish independent school has said that it might be saved after all.
Last week, shortly after the announcement on Thursday of Kilgraston School’s closure at the end of June, the Scottish Council of Independent Schools said this was “a stark reminder of the financial pressure independent schools face”.
Late yesterday, however, Kilgraston School - which is in rural Perthshire - released a statement saying it was “in advanced discussions with Achieve Education Limited, an education provider, to safeguard the future of the school and provide much-needed financial strength and stability”.
According to The Courier newspaper, £1.2 million was pledged within 48 hours of the start of a campaign to raise £2 million to save the school.
The statement added: ”Achieve Education’s primary objective will be to turn around the fortunes of Kilgraston School and ensure its long-term future. Achieve Education will continue to provide the same ethos, values and traditions that pupils and parents have come to expect throughout its 96-year history.”
Headteacher Tanya Davie “will continue to lead the school under the guidance of the Achieve Education Advisory Board, and actively support in the transition”.
A joint statement from Kilgraston School, Achieve Education Limited - which works with many schools in England - and the school’s steering committee of parents said: “We acknowledge the immense efforts and commitments of Kilgraston School’s parents, guardians, alumnae and other benefactors and it is this support and loyalty that has been a key factor in Achieve Education Limited moving quickly to keep the school open.
“We would like to work closely with parents and guardians, now and in the future, to restore faith in the school and the outstanding educational and pastoral opportunities it offers.
“We will now work in good faith, as quickly as we can, to try and achieve legal completion of this proposal in conjunction with parents, guardians, pupils and staff. It is all our hopes that Kilgraston School will have a bright, long and successful future.”
