Overview

• The strike will disrupt classes at nine south London academies on July 11, 15, 16 and 17, impacting over 4,500 pupils and cancelling sports day and an art gallery trip.
• The NEU demands an increase in maternity pay from the current 32 percent above the Burgundy Book minimum to 58 percent, a rise worth up to £4,863 per teacher.
• The trust agreed to decouple pay rises from performance, establish a staff group on workload and wellbeing, and recognise union membership but insisted it cannot afford the maternity pay increase.
• NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede criticised the trust’s “two-tier maternity policy,” and trustees Jonathan Slater and Cassie Buchanan warned that a further premium hike would be financially unfeasible.
• Headmistress Alison Harbottle apologised for the “deeply regrettable” disruption to end-of-year activities and Campaign for Real Education chair Chris McGovern called the strikes unfair to pupils.