NEWQUAY’S biggest secondary school will be closed for hundreds of pupils as strike action is announced.

Scores of Newquay Tretherras teachers will go out on strike on Wednesday, February 26, and Thursday, February 27.

Headteacher Gemma Harries says the academy will be closed to Year 9 and 10 but will be open to Year 7, 8 and 11.

Year 12 and Year 13 students will be welcome to use the KS5 facilities to study and attend any lessons that are on.

The Cornwall Education Learning Trust (CELT), which runs the school, has also been notified that there will be three days of strikes next week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The National Education Union (NEU) says 92 per cent of teachers voted in favour of strike action, reflecting the “strength of feeling about the way they are treated by their employer.”

Mrs Harries refutes the figure stating 69 per cent of National Education Union (NEU) teaching members at Tretherras are “considering” strike action, which equates to 55 teaching staff out of a possible 217 staff.

The headteacher stated they were informed industrial action would take place despite Trust executive leaders’ negotiations with NEU officers had resulted in “positive outcomes and progress.”

But Ian Williams, the NEU branch secretary said there had “unfortunately” been slow progress toward a resolution despite “initial positivity” around the appointment of the new CEO Dan Morrow.

Mrs Harries in an email to parents and carers said: “As you may have read in the local press recently, some staff at Newquay Tretherras are considering strike action.

“I would like to reassure you that 69 per cent of National Education Union (NEU) teaching members at Tretherras are considering this, and not the 92 per cent of all staff as you may have heard or read.

“To give this some context, 69 per cent of NEU members equates to 55 teaching staff out of a possible 217 staff here.

“Some of our teachers, quite rightly, and like many across the country have concerns about cuts to school budgets in real terms over recent years, which has put pressure on the education system nationally.

“The concerns our staff have raised replicate concerns nationally and are not specific to Newquay Tretherras alone.

“I received notification at 7.30am this morning that the strike action, despite reaching resolutions in many areas, intends to go ahead.

“As such on Wednesday, February 26 and Thursday, February 27, school will be closed to Year 9 and Year 10.

“Work will be provided on ClassCharts for them to access independently at home.

“Unfortunately, any planned trips, visits or after school provision on these days has had to be cancelled for all students.

“I need to apologise to you all for the short notice here, however, this has been unavoidable.

“Trust executive leaders have been open to meetings throughout the period of discussion; however NEU officers were only able to meet in the last few days of half term.

“These negotiations resulted in positive outcomes and progress; however, the NEU have just informed me this morning that, despite this, industrial action will commence.

“My priority is the safety of our young people and having completed a thorough risk assessment, we have come to the decision that the school will only be open to Year 7, Year 8, and Year 11.

“Year 12 and Year 13 are welcome to come and use our KS5 facilities to study and attend any lessons that are on.

“Dan Morrow, CELT Trust lead, is working closely with regional and national union representatives to come up with pragmatic and innovative solutions to national pressures.

“We want to be the Trust to do things differently and, despite national pressures and funding cuts, ensure our students and staff have the best possible experience in our schools.

“Whilst there are further strikes planned for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week, we are hoping to find further resolutions over the next few days and have already gone a long way toward this.”

Ian Williams, the NEU branch secretary said there had “unfortunately” been slow progress toward a resolution despite “initial positivity” around the appointment of the new CEO Dan Morrow.

Mr Williams said: “At a very late stage the trust did offer a teams meeting last Friday.

“Progress was made by an agreement to respect teachers’ contractual obligations.

“There are still however many issues to be resolved. Parents will rightly ask themselves how things have come to this.

“Teachers across the country are leaving in their droves. In the midst of a recruitment crisis, CELT MAT has still not resolved this dispute.”

A spokesperson for Newquay Tretherras told the Voice: “Negotiations with the NEU are ongoing and have so far, resulted in positive outcomes and progress on reaching agreements in principle.

“However, due to an unfortunate delay in timelines for these discussions, some industrial action will now commence.

“We have communicated alternative arrangements with parents and carers, particularly where the school will be closed to some year groups and will provide the necessary support and resource to minimise disruption to teaching and learning.

“The wellbeing of both students and staff is a key priority for the Trust and we will continue working closely with union representatives to identify pragmatic and innovative solutions to resolve the situation and reach a negotiated settlement as soon as possible.”