Teachers at schools in the Girls’ Day School Trust were striking today for the first time in their 149-year history.
Teachers at 22 independent schools within the GDST have begun a six-day strike prompted by the group’s decision to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS).
There were dozens of posts on social media from strikers picketing schools, including Howell’s School in Wales, Newcastle High School for Girls and Norwich High School for Girls, among many others.
A number of parents, politicians and union activists also voiced their support for the action and posted pictures of teachers holding placards.
Mary Bousted, co-leader of the National Education Union (NEU), spoke at a rally outside Putney High School this morning, telling teachers: “What the GDST has forgotten is that a school is not a building… a school is not a business, a school is a community, and it’s a community of learners, teachers, support staff and leaders.”
The NEU claims their members will be 20 per cent worse off on average in their annual pension payments under the new proposed scheme.
After today, strikes are scheduled for Feb 23 and 24 and the first three days of March.
The GDST has said it has seen a 43 per cent increase in its contributions to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) since 2019. It has proposed teachers leave the TPS and join an alternative flexible pension scheme with a 20 per cent employer contribution “alongside other benefits”.
The trust said the new plan would “provide greater scope for a total reward package, including pay”.
Cheryl Giovannoni, the GDST chief executive, said: “We understand the strength of feeling amongst our teachers over this issue and of course the concerns raised by our parents.”
She said the GDST was “disappointed” that the NEU had called for strike action “prematurely” while GDST trustees were considering feedback from the consultation process.
In November, SMP reported that 280 independent schools have already left the pension scheme since the employer’s contribution rose from 16.48 per cent to 23.68 per cent in 2019.