Highgate Wood dispute resolved

The dispute between Highgate Wood teaching staff and school governors has been resolved following ten hours of talks between NUT members and the school board on Tuesday. ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) representatives were also present at the talk to ensure a constructive discussion.

As a result of the talks, strikes planned for yesterday and today at the school have been called off. Headteacher Patrick Cozier reports that talks ended with "all parties remaining positive about moving forward, building

relationships, focussing on the core purpose of the school – learning

and teaching, and addressing workload issues for teachers." Mr Cozier also thanked parents for their support during the negotiations.

The dispute arose over staff being asked to add an extra hour's contact time each week, meaning that a longstanding agreement under which teaching staff in Haringey borough are guaranteed 20% non-contact time to allow for preparation and marking would be breached. Governors insisted that the school's financial deficit needed to be addressed; NUT members claimed the deficit was down to financial mismanagement by the governors.

A number of parents had expressed concenrs about disruption to the school timetable as a result of NUT action. Strike action by teachers is at present relatively unusual, but balloting is currently underway regarding UK-wide strike action over pensions arrangements.