Industrial Action Update
Friday 27th January 2023
Dear Parents/Carers,
Last week I wrote to inform you that members of the National Education Union had voted for industrial action which will impact Hanham Woods Academy. These strikes – the result of a pay dispute between Union Members and Government – are scheduled
As per my letter last week, this will result in disruption to our Academy, and most scheduled lessons will be unable to go ahead. As ever, student wellbeing remains our priority, and careful risk assessments have been carried out to assess which lessons and activities can safely continue. As promised, I can now share our plans for Wednesday 1st February 2023.
The following details the plans for Wednesday:
Year 7, 8, 9 and 10:
Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 students will need to remain at home on Wednesday 1st February and access work set through Show My Homework (Satchel). Students who are entitled to Free School Meals will be able to collect a packed lunch at the end of the Academy day on Tuesday 31st January that can be taken home for Wednesday 1st February. A separate text message will be sent shortly to request your child’s lunch option.
On-site places will be offered to children and families where the students would benefit from being within the Academy. We will directly contact the parents/carers of these students in Years 7-10 who would benefit from attending on Wednesday, in the next few days.
Year 11:
Year 11 students will be able to attend the Academy and use a warm, supervised study space with revision resources and access to computers, but they will not be following their normal timetable. Instead, it will be a timetabled day of revision and self-study. Where capacity allows some teachers may invite students in to catch up on coursework or prepare for upcoming practical assessments (teachers will make contact with parents/carers directly if this is an option). If you would like your Year 11 child to attend and make use of the supervised study space please complete this short survey: https://forms.office.com/e/LqzqsmJr0K
Resource Base:
This provision will be open as normal. If your child normally attends the Resource Base we expect them to be in the Academy on Wednesday 1st February. If you have any queries regarding this please contact Mrs McDermott [[email protected]] or Ms Gifford [[email protected]].
Any student attending the Academy on Wednesday 1st February (as per the guidance above) will need to be in full Academy uniform and arrive at the normal time (by 08:30am). The Academy day will finish as normal at 15:00. No enrichment activities will be available on this day.
All students are expected back in the Academy as normal on Thursday 2nd February.
Please note these arrangements may need to change ahead of subsequent strike dates. However, we will continue to work closely with our staff union representatives to keep up-to-date with the situation, and I will inform you of our plans for those days as soon as possible.
I am sure we all hope for a swift resolution to this dispute which will satisfy all parties. Until then, we recognise and respect the right of colleagues to take part industrial action and ask that all members of our community continue to treat each other with respect. And while I understand this situation may be frustrating, your continued support for our Academy at this time is appreciated.
I do hope this has answered your questions and will allow you to plan ahead for any disruption. However, should you have any further questions, do please contact the Academy through the usual channels.
Dream BIG // Work Hard // Be Kind
Mr O’Callaghan
Principal
