Teachers at Foxhills in Scunthorpe are preparing to strike in response to proposed plans by the Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) to extend the school day by half an hour. This proposed change has been met with resistance by the NASUWT teaching union, who argue that the extended hours will have a detrimental effect on teacher workload, as well as the wellbeing of both staff and students. At present, schools governed by OGAT close their doors at 2:30pm BST. The proposed extension is part of a bid to align with the Department for Education’s advised 32.5-hour week.
The currently short lunch break period has been a focal point of criticism, with the union stating it is inadequate for pupils to eat and utilise facilities, which could potentially impact their wellbeing and concentration. In response to these concerns, union representatives are calling for fresh negotiations with OGAT. Planned strike action is set to occur on several dates throughout June.
This article has been written based on original content reported by www.bbc.com, subsequently adapted by The Lincoln Post.
