Teachers will be striking on two further days this month. Teachers in the National Education Union (NEU) are taking action on:

•  Wednesday 15th March 2023
•  Thursday 16th March 2023

The Headteacher of Saint Bede’s Catholic High School, Mr Marsden, has told parents that these strikes are happening because of a national dispute between the unions and the government regarding teachers’ pay, and not because of any issues related specifically to our school.

The industrial action will impact pupils in St.Bede’s in the following ways:

• On Wednesday 15th March, school will be closed to Year 8 pupils
• On Thursday 16th March, school will be closed to Year 10 pupils

The School has prioritised Year 11 remaining in school as they prepare for their GCSE exams, and Year 7, the youngest pupils.

Parents and carers of Year 8 and Year 10 pupils will therefore need to make alternative childcare arrangements on the relevant day. Year 8 pupils will be provided with activities to complete on Firefly (further details to follow). Year 10 pupils will again be directed to work on revision activities in preparation for their Year 10 Mock Exams taking place the following week.

A very small number of the school’s most vulnerable Year 8 and Year 10 pupils will be invited into school on the relevant day. This will include pupils with an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) or those children in the care of the local authority. These pupils will be supported in school to carry out the work that other pupils will be doing at home. Parents/carers of pupils for whom this applies will be contacted separately.

Pupils in Year 8 and Year 10 eligible for free school meals will be able to order a lunch pack for the relevant day, which will be collected in school the previous day. Parents/carers of pupils to whom this applies will be contacted separately with further details.

With the exception of Year 8 on Wednesday 15th March and Year 10 on Thursday 16th March, all other pupils should attend school as normal. Whilst they will follow their usual timetable as far as possible, there is likely to be disruption to the school day for some pupils as a result of the strike action. Pupils should therefore bring to school any current homework, coursework or revision work, as well as a reading book, in case there is a limited period during the school day when it will be necessary for them to work independently under staff supervision.