The next days of industrial strike action planned by the National Education Union (NEU) are Thursday 27 April and Tuesday 2 May 2023.

Following previous days of industrial action, we have carefully considered the impact that this will have on the number of staff available to enable us to safely open the school and provide appropriate levels of supervision through the day. We confirm the following arrangements:

THURSDAY 27 APRIL and TUESDAY 2 MAY 2023
OPEN TO YEAR 10 AND YEAR 11, CLOSED TO YEARS 7 TO 9

Based on the arrangements and impact of the industrial action on Deer Park in February and March, we will be closing the school on Thursday 27 April and Tuesday 2 May to pupils in Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 and keeping the school open to Year 11 and Year 10 only. This is due to the proximity of the GCSE exams for Year 11 and the upcoming coursework deadlines and demands alongside GSCE programmes of study for Year 10, hence the need to prioritise these year groups.

On both Thursday 27 April and Tuesday 2 May:

• Year 11 pupils will use the Main Hall as their base and will need to bring in revision materials. Where they have timetabled lessons and staff are in, they will be taught in those lessons. However, if the member of staff is not in school, pupils will work/revise independently in one of our computer suites or the PLC and be supervised by a member of the SLT.
   
• Year 10 pupils will use the Atrium as their base and will need to bring in revision materials. Where Year 10 have timetabled lessons and staff are in, they will be taught in those lessons. However, if the member of staff is not in school, pupils will work/revise independently in one of our computer suites or the PLC and be supervised by a member of the SLT.
   
• Work for pupils in Year 7 to 9 will be available on SMHW for the pupils to complete at home.

If for any reason industrial action does not take place on either or both of these dates, then school will be open as usual for all pupils.

Please note that if this national pay dispute is not resolved, there may be 3 further strike dates in late June or early July (after the end of the GCSEs), with those dates yet to be confirmed by unions.