Windermere School teachers threaten to go on strike

Windermere School, which charges fees of up to £19,433 a term, offers full boarding and tuition for national and international students.

17 of its staff are associated with the National Education Union (NEU) and 16 are involved with NASUWT 'The Teachers' Union.' 

Several independent schools across the country have chosen to leave the scheme as employer contribution rates will rise five per cent to 28.6 from April 1 this year. The NEU said it would 'support members opposing any proposal to remove teachers' membership of the TPS.' 

A school spokesman said it was facing 'significant rising costs and the possible imposition of VAT on school fees.'

On Wednesday March 6, the school was notified by NASUWT that its members, which makes up 14 per cent of the staff, had voted in favour of action short of strike action. 

Windermere School said that the planned withdrawal from TPS was to do with the increase in contributions, not paying back loans (Image: Windermere School)

The school spokesman said the NEU, which is 'not formally recognised by the school', had a vote that did not provide a majority for strike action. They said they had not been notified of any plans for industrial action by NASUWT. 

Planning documents submitted with an application to build five homes on the site said the land would have been sold to developers to pay off a Covid Business Interruption Scheme Loan with an outstanding balance of £450,000 that will increase further.

National park planners rejected the proposals over fears the homes would ‘harm’ the character of the area.

The school spokesman said the rejection did not have a financial impact on staff or parents, saying that the land sale was only one way in which they could pay off the loan. They also said that the planned change to the pension scheme was prompted by the government's announcement of the increase in contributions, not repayment of any borrowing. 

READ MORE: Plans for five homes at Windermere School rejected

Beth Farhat, northern regional secretary for the NEU, said: "The TPS is a significant part of a teacher's remuneration and contractual rights. They expect to be fairly rewarded and for their employer to honour the contract of employment. Instead, the employer intends to deploy the widely condemned practice of 'fire and rehire' to worsen the working conditions of our members.

"The NEU has conducted a formal ballot of members at Windermere School and met the legal threshold. Our members' collective view is clear, and we will discuss next steps with them in the near future. Be in no doubt that staff are committed to their schools and to their pupils, but also be in no doubt this is an unacceptable move by the employer. They would do well to engage in talks with unions to avoid strike action. So far, they have been unwilling to do so."

Bethany O'Flaherty, head of marketing at Windermere School, said: "After 18 months of planning and implementation, we now have a much improved financial position, along with a curriculum which is generating interest both locally, and across the world. These actions have been positively endorsed by both our auditors and our bankers, who continue to provide support. 

"The school leadership team are in regular and frequent dialogue with a nominated group of staff who represent all the teachers and are looking for an agreed way to resolve all issues relating to our withdrawal from TPS without any interruption to the education of pupils.

"The school has ambitious growth plans and the ongoing support of our staff, parents and the wider community are key to our success. Being a strong, financially sustainable and effective school is of the utmost importance as we recover from the effects of COVID and the overall economic slump." 

Ms O'Flaherty said the restructuring plans 'has not diminished' the school's commitment to its charitable status, and that its means-tested financial bursaries, which include boarding places for children of the Armed Forces and other awards to local pupils, are valued at over £1m.