School leaders taking strike action will not lead to the closure of schools, a heads’ union leader has said today.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, said he wanted to reassure heads that he “cannot envisage circumstances where we instigate action that will call on you to close your school”.
Mr Whiteman said he acknowledged members’ “worry” in voting “yes” to strike action, but sought to reassure school leaders that they are “in safe hands”.
The union is carrying out its first ballot on action over pay in its 125-year history.
He added that the law that controls industrial action “prescribes a very wide definition of the term strike” and that “attendance at a rally...could be defined as strike action”.
School leaders have been taking to social media this week to express sadness over voting “yes” to strike action, but explaining they had been “left with no other option”.
Vic Goddard, co-principal of Passmores Academy in Essex, said voting “yes” made him “incredibly sad” but he needed to do so to avoid “letting my community down”.
And NAHT president Dr Paul Gosling said leaders “have to stand up for education”.
Mr Whiteman said today that NAHT was asking members to vote “yes” to strike action as it will “offer us a wide range of activity that affords you the protection of legal industrial action”.
Sixth-form teachers to walk out over pay
Earlier this week, it was announced that teaching staff in sixth-form colleges are set to strike over pay from the end of this month.
The NEU teaching union survey of its members teaching in sixth forms returned an 88.5 per cent vote in favour of strike action over pay, which will begin on 30 November.
The NAHT sent out ballot papers on 11 November, with voting set to close in January.
Members are being asked two questions: whether they back strike action and whether they support action short of a strike.
