Teachers’ six-day strike over pensions

Private school staff walk out over Wycliffe College’s withdrawal from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme

11th March 2021, 2:39pm

Teachers At Wycliffe College In Gloucestershire Are Taking Part In A Six-day Strike Over The Private School's Withdrawal From The Teachers' Pension Scheme

Teachers at a private boarding school are striking over its decision to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS).

NEU teaching union members at Wycliffe College in Gloucestershire were on strike on 2, 9 and 10 March, with further action planned for 17, 18 and 19 March.

The staff voted to take the action after the school said it would be pulling out of the TPS. The government announced a rise in employer contributions to the scheme in 2019, with state schools offered government support to cover the increase.

But private schools have not received financial support, leading many to leave the scheme, resulting in lower pensions for their staff.

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In January, Tes reported that 201 schools had officially given notice to leave the scheme, while 150 more were in consultation about leaving.

In the same month, the NEU said there was widespread concern among independent school teachers who feared being placed on to a less favourable pension scheme, and that there were “quite a few schools where there have been threats of balloting [for strike action] or indicative ballots”.

Teacher pensions: Going on strike ‘was our only remaining option’

Teacher Nicky Bryant told Gloucestershire Live: “It is very hard for a committed teacher to make the decision to strike. Teachers would prefer to avoid further strike action, but we have tried every other way to bring the trustees back to the negotiating table.

“This is our only remaining option.”

Regional NEU officer Peter Marsh-Jenks said: “Still refusing to talk, the college are holding individual meetings where staff are told that if they do not sign, they will be fired and rehired on reduced terms.”

Nick Gregory, headmaster of Wycliffe College, said: “We regret that a number of teaching staff at Wycliffe College have said they will take strike action.

“The issue concerns a 43 per cent increase in employer contribution to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (from 16.48 per cent to 23.68 per cent of gross salary), which was introduced by the government from September 2019.

“The trustees of Wycliffe College have sought to absorb the cost of this increase for the last two years, but reluctantly, given the material nature of this increase, the future uncertainty in relation to possible further increases and other external pressures facing the sector, the trustees decided to consult with staff over a proposed change to the college’s pension provision.

“A full and meaningful collective consultation process has been carried out over a period of 141 days and proper consideration has been given to all suggestions and proposals put forward. The college is currently consulting with staff individually about the proposal.

“The principal difficulty is that, whilst the additional employer contribution in the state sector is currently funded by the taxpayer, independent schools such as Wycliffe do not receive similar funding. This has compelled more than 200 independent schools to leave the TPS, and many more are following suit.

“If implemented, we appreciate the significant impact that the proposals will have on teaching staff who have demonstrated exceptional professionalism, loyalty and commitment throughout the last very difficult year in order to maintain the high standards of educational provision in which everyone at Wycliffe takes such pride.

“That said, we also recognise that we need to protect the long-term sustainability and future of the College.”