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Further Strike Action – Information for Parents and Carers

  • February 1, 2023

Dear Parent and Carers,Following the disruption caused by the strike held today, I fear that this will not be the end of the disruption – further action is planned for Tuesday 28th February, Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th March. Our staff, governors and leaders of the school fully understand the impact that all of this is having on our students. As the dispute moves forward, we will try to mitigate where we can; however,  this is challenging and unless a breakthrough is made there is a strong likelihood that we will have to close again on those days. Please remember that this strike is not against the school, it is a dispute with the Secretary of State. It is important to articulate to you fully why these strikes are taking place.

As you will be aware, one of the reasons for the industrial action is for an above inflation pay rise for teachers and support staff in schools, this is the same demand as other public sectors workers right now; however, this is not the sole reason and the reasons for the dispute run much deeper. The irrefutable fact is that funding for state schools and services that support young people have significantly been eroded over the last decade, recent funding grants given to schools remain insufficient to meet all of our rising costs and this is having a direct impact on provision. For example, the parents of children suffering from mental health problems will know all too painfully how stretched services have become to provide the support and help that is required for their children. 

Significantly, this dispute is also centred on a very real recruitment and retention crisis within the teaching profession. Large numbers of teachers are either leaving or considering leaving the profession and, as a result of the government’s systematic failure to hit its own recruitment targets, recruitment of new teachers to replace those leaving is at an all- time low. Put simply, if the profession is not attractive to young graduates, due to an erosion in pay,  who will be left to staff our schools and teach your children?

I have attached to this letter a copy of a letter sent to our local MP. This has been signed by myself and the Chair of Governors. It outlines, in detail, the issues facing the education sector. Your support in writing to your local MP would be gratefully received and there is a template version of this letter available should you wish to use it. You will hear plenty from government ministers, backbenchers and sympathetic media commentators about the disruption caused by strikes. However, we also need you as parents to understand what is at stake here. If the profession itself is not fighting for a qualified teacher for every child in every classroom, who is? 

Government action to deal with this crisis would not only resolve the industrial dispute, but greatly improve the capacity of schools to deliver good outcomes for all children. All the trade unions – those who are engaged in action and those who aren’t – see the end-game as improving education for the nation’s young people, not a continuation of the dispute.

Regards,

Mr P Davies
Headteacher

How Yondr Works

Frequently Asked Questions

We want our students to be engaged in their learning. A child at high school should not really have a reason to contact a parent during the day; however, if there is a genuine reason e.g. they have forgotten their packed lunch, a phone call can be made home from the school office. If a parent needs to contact their child in an emergency, they should contact the school office. If you need to contact your child during the school day, contact the main office on 01942 883796.

In case of a school emergency, we direct our students to safety first, following our school emergency procedures.

 

Students are in possession of their phone - in their Yondr pouch - for the entire school day. We will advise students to store the pouch safely in their school bag or blazer pockets.

If a student damages their Pouch or is caught on their phone, we will confiscate the phone and issue a sanction which is likely to be a suspension.

Note: Damage consists of any signs that the physical integrity of the pouch has been compromised, whether intentional or unintentional, as determined by the school or Yondr staff.

Damaged pouches will be charged to parents at a cost of £20.

They will be searched and wanded with a handheld scanner by a member of SLT. If they are found to have their phone on their person they will be expected to place it in their pouch. Refusal will be met with suspension.

If a student forgets their Pouch, their phone will be confiscated.

As per our previous mobile phone policy;

  • Confiscated phones will be taken to reception where the phone will be secured in the school safe.
  • Parents will be alerted to the phone confiscation via the school office.

Parents will have the option to collect the phone at the end of the day. If parents do not collect the phone, the phone will remain in school until the end of the week or until the student has their pouch.

In Yondr’s experience, this almost never happens. All students funnel past the unlocking stations at the exits, they want their phones back and don’t forget to unlock their pouches. If they do arrive home with a phone in a pouch, they can either come back to school to unlock it, or have a phone free evening!

The unlocking process is quick and takes under a second per student. 

As a privilege, Year 11 will be able to unlock their phones as they go off site at lunchtime; however, they will be expected to put their phones back into their pouches when they return to school for period 5.

Yes. There is an adapted version of the pouch which uses a Velcro fastener instead of a magnetic lock. This means the student still follows the policy, but the adapted pouch gives them easy access to their phone when required. If the student abuses this, they will face a sanction. We are already aware of these students.

Your Office 365 account username is your school network account username followed by @flhs.wigan.sch.uk 
The password is the same password that you use in school to access computers.