Academy teachers win pay dispute

Britain's two biggest teaching unions recently called on their members to work-to-rule in a campaign to stop standards slipping and win better conditions.

But when teachers at Stratford Academy took part in the nationwide protest head teacher Andrew Seager reacted furiously, threatening staff with a 15 per cent pay cut.

Mr Seager's rash actions sparked a series of strikes by teachers last week that were supported by parents and members of other teaching unions at nearby schools.

The strikes and "constructive talks" led to an interim agreement between teachers and the head teacher with further talks planned.

Academy schools have autonomy from the local authorities and head teachers have wide-ranging powers, including power to set teachers pay.

But anti-academy campaigners told the Morning Star the dispute would not have happened if the school had been accountable to the local authority.

"Children have lost on days of education because of the autonomous nature of academies, which meant the head took a wrong turn and was bullying the staff.

"Had he been accountable to a local authority, we have every reason to believe the strikes wouldn't have happened."