Industrial Action 15th and 16th March

Dear Parent/Carer,

I am writing to you to share information about the next planned teacher strikes on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th March 2023. As I have explained in previous blogs, these strikes are not action against the school but are instead about concerns over teachers’ pay and the overall funding for schools, which is damaging to every child’s education and leading to challenges recruiting and retaining school staff. These issues affect MHS as much as they do all schools.

Arrangements for both Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th March are as follows:

Year 11

1. Students in Year 11 will be expected in school for a normal school day. Thursday will start with the planned ‘trial exam results’ assembly which is very important.
2. Roughly 60% of lessons will take place as normal, and so students should be prepared with the right books and equipment.
3. Where teachers are not available students will take part in supervised independent study.
4. Many students have a practical PE lesson that day. Students will need to choose whether to take part in some physical activity OR study in the hall, and bring the right equipment for their choice.
5. On Wednesday 15th March there will be a formal exam for students in Miss Worsley’s RSL Drama class. This is compulsory and not optional, all students in the class must attend school for the full day. Please see details on a letter here.

Years 7-10

1. School will be closed for students in Years 7-10, unless a place is requested under the provision for vulnerable learners. See below for more details.
2. On Thursday 16th March there will be a formal exam for students in Miss Worsley’s Year 10 RSL Drama class. This is compulsory and not optional, all students in the class must attend school for the full day. Please see details on a letter here.
3. Students not in school will be provided with work to undertake at home. This is slightly different to the previous strike and will consist of either:

Links to online platforms (as per the previous strike day), OR specific work for their class set on Satchel One, OR Teams lessons lasting between 30 and 50 minutes. Where the class teacher is not on strike, every lesson will begin with at least a short online Teams session where the tasks for the class will be explained by the teacher. This is different to the last strike.

The offer will differ per lesson per student depending on whether their teacher is striking or not striking and available. A letter explaining the offer and how to access it can be seen here.

Vulnerable Learners

We may be able to provide accommodation for the most vulnerable learners on the day of the strike. If you believe that your child meets this criteria and wish to book a place, then please follow the link here.

The deadline for letting school know is midday on Monday 13th March.

Free school meals

The parents or carers of any child who normally receives a benefits-related Free School Meal, who will not be in school on 15th or 16th March should also follow the link below and complete the final question of the form if a meal is required. These meals will be available for collection before the end of the day on Tuesday 14th March from Bradshaw canteen. Only pre-booked meals, via the form, will be available. The deadline for letting school know is midday on Monday 13th March.

The form for requesting a meal is here, please see final question.

I hope that this information above is helpful and of course, if anything changes, we will let you know.

Best wishes

Joe Barker

Share!