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Thurston Community College Principal H Wilson BSc MBA A High Performing College with Specialisms in Science and Training A Lead School for Gifted and Talented Provision Norton Road, Thurston, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 3PB Telephone: 01359 230885 Fax: 01359 230880 e-mail: [email protected] www.thurston.org.uk 23 November 2011 Dear Parent / Carer We have been informed by the NAHT, NUT, ATL, NASUWT and UNISON unions that they will be taking industrial action in the form of a strike on Wednesday 30 November 2011. This action is not against the College itself but is part of national industrial action organised by these trade unions about proposed changes to the pension schemes of their members. Unions are not required to inform us which members of staff will take action and it may be that they will not know themselves as there is no obligation on members of unions to obey a strike call. Although non-striking staff will be on site, it is not lawful for the College to use other staff or supply teachers to cover the lessons of those teachers taking strike action. Neither the Governing Body nor the Principal are legally allowed to close the College ‘in sym- pathy’ with the strike. Our main concern is our ability to ensure the safe supervision of all students. Rather than leave the decision until the day of the strike, which may cause difficulties for parents, we have taken the decision to ask staff to indicate their intention regarding the strike action. Taking their responses into account and having completed a full risk as- sessment, we have decided to close the College to all students on 30 November 2011. This decision has been made on the basis that we are unable to guarantee adequate staff numbers to ensure the safety of students on the College site. May I ask for your support in encouraging your son/daughter to continue with his/her studies from home. All stu- dents have books from which they can study. In addition, I would recommend the BBC ‘Bitesize’ Website ( http:// www.bbc.co.uk/schools/bitesize) which provides an online revision service and the Learning Platform, accessed through the FROG link on the College website ( www.thurston.org.uk). We all hope that the issues over which the industrial action has arisen are resolved as soon as possible. Should the proposed industrial action not go ahead, we will of course inform you at the earliest opportunity. Yours sincerely Cler Hobbs Helen Wilson Chair of Governors Principal
